Narrative:
RC-135E "Rivet Amber" was at that time the most sophisticated reconnaissance plane of the US Air Force. It was converted to this configuration in 1963 to fly reconnaissance missions against the Soviet re-entry range off the Kamchatka Peninsula. On June 5, 1969, Rivet Amber departed Shemya for a flight to Fairbanks for routine maintenance. About thirty minutes after departing Shemya, Rivet Amber (callsign Irene 92) transmitted the following message to Elmendorf AFB: "Elmendorf Airways, Irene 92 experiencing vibration in flight. Not certain of the emergency. We have the aircraft under control, Irene 92." This was the last radio contact with the flight. Unidentified microphone keying clicks continued until 10:22. The aircraft crashed at sea.
After more than three weeks of intensive search and rescue operations, the efforts were called off. Neither a single piece of wreckage nor any personnel were ever found.
Loss of control
accident date: 05-06-1969
type: Boeing RC-135E Rivet Amber
registration: 62-4137
| Status: | |
| Date: | Thursday 5 June 1969 |
| Time: | 10:22 |
| Type: |  Boeing RC-135E Rivet Amber |
| Operator: | United States Air Force - USAF |
| Registration: | 62-4137 |
| MSN: | 18477/C43 |
| First flight: | 1962-07-18 (6 years 11 months) |
| Total airframe hrs: | 3350 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-5 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 19 / Occupants: 19 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 19 / Occupants: 19 |
| Aircraft damage: | Missing |
| Aircraft fate: | Presumed damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | ca 400 km E off Shemya, AK, USA [Bering Sea] ( Pacific Ocean)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Shemya AFB, AK (SYA/PASY), United States of America |
| Fairbanks-Eielson AFB, AK (EIL/PAEI), United States of America |
RC-135E "Rivet Amber" was at that time the most sophisticated reconnaissance plane of the US Air Force. It was converted to this configuration in 1963 to fly reconnaissance missions against the Soviet re-entry range off the Kamchatka Peninsula. On June 5, 1969, Rivet Amber departed Shemya for a flight to Fairbanks for routine maintenance. About thirty minutes after departing Shemya, Rivet Amber (callsign Irene 92) transmitted the following message to Elmendorf AFB: "Elmendorf Airways, Irene 92 experiencing vibration in flight. Not certain of the emergency. We have the aircraft under control, Irene 92." This was the last radio contact with the flight. Unidentified microphone keying clicks continued until 10:22. The aircraft crashed at sea.
After more than three weeks of intensive search and rescue operations, the efforts were called off. Neither a single piece of wreckage nor any personnel were ever found.
Classification:
Loss of control
Sources:
» A Tale of Two Airplanes by King HawesPhotos
accident date: 05-06-1969
type: Boeing RC-135E Rivet Amber
registration: 62-4137
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 Shemya AFB, AK to Fairbanks-Eielson AFB, AK as the crow flies is 2528 km (1580 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
Distance from Shemya AFB, AK to Fairbanks-Eielson AFB, AK as the crow flies is 2528 km (1580 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
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.
languages: 
Pacific Ocean
Share
Boeing C-135
- 820 built
- 40th loss
- 32nd fatal accident
- 5th worst accident (at the time)
- 9th worst accident (currently)
Pacific Ocean- 14th worst accident (at the time)
- 19th worst accident (currently)
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:
©2023 Flight Safety Foundation