ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 60378
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| Date: | Monday 12 December 1977 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  McDonnell Douglas F-15B Eagle |
| Owner/operator: | 433rd FWS, 57th FWW, USAF |
| Registration: | 75-0085 |
| MSN: | B-021 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Area 52, Tonopah Ranges, near Nellis AFB, Nevada -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada (LSV/KLSV) |
| Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada (LSV/KLSV) | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Crashed December 6, 1977 in Area 52, Tonopah Test Ranges, near Nellis AFB, Nevada, During an ACT mission. Both crew - Lt. Col. David 'Jake' Jacobson (Commander of 433rd FWS) and Col. William Hilton Walter III, M.D (commander of the Hospital at Nellis AFB)- were killed. Per eyewitness report:
"This is regarding the aircraft listed 75-0085 (very lovingly known as 'Balls 85') from Nellis AFB Nevada. I was the Asst. C/C on that aircraft at the time of the crash. At the time of the crash the 2 seaters were known as TF-15A's. It was decades ago but I still remember getting called out of the hanger by OSI immediately after the crash. I had launched and recovered Colonel "Jake" Jacobsen many times and he was a great guy and a fine pilot. He was one of the few pilots that treated ground crew with respect and a smile.
The cause of the crash was never exactly determined. but afaik it was assumed that the Hospital Commander pulled back on the stick too fast and too hard effectively snowplowing into the side of a mountain on the Tonopah range. Both pilots ejected but hit the mountain before the chutes deployed. I was not allowed to be a part of the recovery but was told that there were three impacts, 1 plane and 2 seats packs.
I mean no disrespect to the Hospital Commander in anyway but it was believed to be his fault. I do not remember him as a person but I am sure he was a fine man. Because of this crash the Air Force made a policy that never would two Commanders be on the same plane at the same time. I do not know if this rule still applies.")
Sources:
1. Davies, Steve; Dildy, Doug (2007). F-15 Eagle Engaged—The World's Most Successful Jet Fighter. Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-169-4 p. 240
2. http://www.f-15.nl/wo.html
3. http://web.archive.org/web/20171029221354/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/aircraft_by_type/f-15.htm
4. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1975.html
5. https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=185827
6. https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=185829
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 01-Apr-2012 09:44 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 01-Apr-2012 10:29 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Cn, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 02-Apr-2012 14:52 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Date, Narrative] |
| 11-Jul-2016 23:54 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 11-Jul-2016 23:56 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Source] |
| 12-Jul-2016 00:01 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Date, Narrative] |
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