ASN Aircraft accident Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker 55-3133 Wake Island Airport (AWK)
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Status:
Date:Tuesday 24 September 1968
Type:Silhouette image of generic K35A model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker
Operator:United States Air Force - USAF
Registration: 55-3133
MSN: 17249/16
First flight: 1957-07-18 (11 years 2 months)
Total airframe hrs:6681
Engines: 4 Pratt & Whitney J57-P
Crew:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Passengers:Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 52
Total:Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 56
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Aircraft fate: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:Wake Island Airport (AWK) (   Micronesia)
Phase: Approach (APR)
Nature:Military
Departure airport:Guam-Andersen AFB (UAM/PGUA), Guam
Destination airport:Honolulu-Hickam AFB, HI (HIK), United States of America
Narrative:
The KC-135 transport plane was en route from U-Tapao, Thailand and Guam to Loring AFB, ME with en route stops at Honolulu-Hickam AFB, HI (HIK) and California. Over the Pacific Ocean the airplane developed engine problems. They crew decided to divert to Wake Island Airport (AWK). On final approach the airplane contacted the surface of the water and bounced onto the east end of the runway. It struck ILS aerials and burst into flames.
Passengers were 509th Bomb Wing personnel returning from duty in Thailand.

Sources:
» The Miami News - Sep 24, 1968
» Lodi News-Sentinel - Sep 24, 1968


Photos

photo of Boeing-KC-135A-BN-Stratotanker-55-3133
accident date: 24-09-1968
type: Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker
registration: 55-3133
photo of Boeing-KC-135A-BN-Stratotanker-55-3133
accident date: 24-09-1968
type: Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker
registration: 55-3133
photo of Boeing-KC-135A-BN-Stratotanker-55-3133
accident date: 24-09-1968
type: Boeing KC-135A-BN Stratotanker
registration: 55-3133
 

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 Guam-Andersen AFB to Honolulu-Hickam AFB, HI as the crow flies is 6059 km (3787 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.

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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