ASN Aircraft accident Boeing C-135B Stratolifter 61-0331 Hawaii, USA
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Status:
Date:Sunday 13 June 1971
Time:13:30
Type:Silhouette image of generic C135 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Boeing C-135B Stratolifter
Operator:United States Air Force - USAF
Registration: 61-0331
MSN: 18238/C16
First flight: 1961-12-20 (9 years 6 months)
Total airframe hrs:11062
Engines: 4 Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-5
Crew:Fatalities: 24 / Occupants: 24
Passengers:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0
Total:Fatalities: 24 / Occupants: 24
Aircraft damage: Damaged beyond repair
Location:113 km (70.6 mls) off Hawaii, USA (   Pacific Ocean)
Phase: En route (ENR)
Nature:Military
Departure airport:Pago Pago International Airport (PPG/NSTU), American Samoa
Destination airport:Honolulu-Hickam AFB, HI (HIK), United States of America
Narrative:
A Boeing C-135B plane, serial 61-0331, was destroyed in an accident in the Pacific Ocean, 113 km off Hawaii, USA. All 24 crew members were killed. The airplane operated on a flight from Pago Pago International Airport (PPG) to Honolulu-Hickam AFB, HI (HIK).
The C-135 was operated by USAF 4950th Test Wing for the Space and Missile System Office (SAMSO). It had been observing the French Encelade atmospheric nuclear test at Mururoa.

Sources:
» ARIA 328 Memorial


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Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Pago Pago International Airport to Honolulu-Hickam AFB, HI as the crow flies is 4186 km (2616 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.

This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Boeing C-135

  • 820 built
  • 44th loss
  • 35th fatal accident
  • 5th worst accident (at the time)
  • 6th worst accident (currently)
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 Pacific Ocean
  • 8th worst accident (at the time)
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