Incident Douglas EB-66E Destroyer 54-540,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 138789
 
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Date:Wednesday 2 February 1972
Time:
Type:Douglas EB-66E Destroyer
Owner/operator:42nd TEWSqn USAF
Registration: 54-540
MSN: 44840
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 6
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Location:Korat RTAFB (VTUN) -   Thailand
Phase: Take off
Nature:Military
Departure airport:Korat RTAFB (VTUN)
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
Narrative:
Crashed on takeoff at Korat RTAFB on February 2 1972. Per eyewitness report:

"The runway at Korat RTAFB is well over 6,000 feet long and has a rather pronounced “hump” in it. It was impossible to see from one end of it to the other. When an aircraft took off it was out of sight for a few seconds as it went over the hump until it actually became airborne.

That day, EB-66C (No. 54-0540) became airborne for only a few short seconds. As it cleared the runway, power and control was lost and the aircraft crashed, wheels up, into the overrun area at the west end of the Korat runway. Its’ engine nacelles acting as giant scoops, scraping up grass and stones, sucking them into the engines. The aircraft came to rest on its’ belly with the engines acting like outriggers, holding it upright. Luckily, all 6 crew members escaped the crash unharmed.

We soon got the word at Heli Ops that the EB-66 had crashed and that all aircraft were grounded, including the helicopter. Fuel contamination or sabotage was suspected and had to be checked out. An hour passed and we were cleared to fly"

Sources:

http://www.usafcombatcamera.org/our-stories/southeast-asia/a-bizarre-day-at-korat-rtafb-by-steve-hock/
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1954.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20111224222844/http://www.rushden.org:80/cott.html

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
27-Sep-2011 01:01 Uli Elch Added
13-Feb-2013 20:51 Dr. John Smith Updated [Date, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Source, Narrative]
30-May-2021 10:32 Anon. Updated [Operator, Operator]

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