ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 162946
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Thursday 4 May 1961 |
| Time: | 17:00 |
| Type: | Strato Lab High 5 |
| Owner/operator: | United States Navy (USN) |
| Registration: | |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Unknown |
| Location: | Sea, Gulf of Mexico -
 Atlantic Ocean
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Test |
| Departure airport: | USS Antietam CVS-36 |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Strato Lab 5 was one of a series of experimental high altitude balloons operated by the US Navy for research purposes.
On the 4th of May, 1961 the balloon ascended from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Antietam, carrying two balloonists in an open gondola. The purpose of the flight was to test the Navy's Mark IV full-pressure flight suit.
In the course of an almost 10-hour flight which reached an altitude of 113,740 feet (a record which stood until 2012) the Mk IV suit proved to be a success, and it became the basis of the flight suits used by the Mercury Project astronauts.
The flight, however, was marred by tragedy after the splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico when the balloonists were being picked up from the floating gondola by a helicopter from the Antietam. One of the balloonists slipped from the rescue line and fell into the sea.
The face-plate of his suit was open and water rushed in and caused him to sink before rescue divers standing by could intervene.
Lieutenant-Commander Victor A. Prather, US Navy.
R.I.P.
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Strato-Lab
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 01-Jan-2014 06:22 | angels one five | Added |
| 01-Jan-2014 06:25 | angels one five | Updated [Aircraft type, Narrative] |
| 20-Mar-2022 03:39 | Ron Averes | Updated [Operator] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation