Accident description
Last updated: 22 May 2013
| Status: | |
| Date: | 31 MAR 1959 |
| Time: | 11:45 |
| Type: | Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker |
| Operator: | United States Air Force - USAF |
| Registration: | 58-0002 |
| C/n / msn: | 17747/217 |
| First flight: | 1959-01-26 (2 months) |
| Total airframe hrs: | 50 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney J57-P |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 14,5 km (9.1 mls) E of Killeen, TX (United States of America)
 |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Austin-Bergstrom AFB, TX (KAYS), United States of America |
| Austin-Bergstrom AFB, TX (KAYS), United States of America |
The Boeing KC-135 departed Bergstrom AFB on a mission to refuel B-52 bombers. In the area of Killeen, TX, the airplane entered a thunderstorm. Two engines separated and one of the engines struck the tail. The airplane lost control and crashed on a cedar-cloaked hillside.
The aircraft had been delivered just 6 weeks prior to the accident.
Events:
Sources:
» Four men die in military plane crash (The Odessa American, 1959-04-01)
Photos
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 Austin-Bergstrom AFB, TX to Austin-Bergstrom AFB, TX as the crow flies is 0 km (0 miles).
Distance from Austin-Bergstrom AFB, TX to Austin-Bergstrom AFB, TX as the crow flies is 0 km (0 miles).
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.
