Date:	Tuesday 24 October 1972
Time:	19:20
Type:	Grumman A-6A Intruder
Owner/operator:	VA-115, US Navy
Registration:	155705
MSN:	I-431
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	4
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	USS Midway (CV-41), Gulf of Tonkin -   Vietnam
Phase:	Combat
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	USS Midway (CV-41)
Destination airport:	USS Midway (CV-41)

Narrative:
A-6A Intruder BuNo. 155705 of VA‑115 as part of CVW‑2 on board the USS Midway (CVA-41). Destroyed October 29, 1972: On the night of 29 October VA-115' suffered the worst landing accident involving an Intruder during the war when Lt Bruce 'Klaw' Kallsen and Bombarider/Navigator Lt (jg) Mike Bixel were making what appeared to be a normal night recovery on Midway. They had just engaged the No 2 arrestor wire when the jet's right main wheel axle snapped off, leaving a stub main mount that dragged the now disengaged aircraft to the right and into aircraft parked on the bow.

Several F-4Bs and A-7As were destroyed or damaged, along with the Intruder (BuNo 155705). F-4B Phantom II (BuNo 153031) took a direct hit, and Lt Bruce Kallsen climbed out of the burning aircraft but B/N Mike Bixel ejected and was not recovered. Four flight deck crew were killed in the mishap as well.

NOTE: Some published sources give the date of the incident as October 29, 1972 not October 24, 1972

OS2 Farral- I was on board when this accident happened and it was the 24th at about 20:10 as I was just off watch and going to bed.

1. A-6 Intruder Units of the Vietnam War By Rick Morgan & Jim Laurier
2. U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft Damaged or Destroyed During the Vietnam War By Douglas E. Campbell
3. http://web.archive.org/web/20180422222159/http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/A-6.html
4. http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries19.html
5. http://web.archive.org/web/20171103001143/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/aircraft_by_type/a6_prowler.htm
6. https://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=413306
7. https://www.findagrave.com/page=gr&GRid=144004232
8. http://www.virtualwall.org/db/BixelMS01a.htm
9. http://www.omsa.org/files/jomsa_arch/Splits/2010/45331_JOMSA_Vol61_3_28.pdf

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
20-Aug-2013 09:02	Uli Elch	Added
20-Aug-2013 10:36	Uli Elch	Updated [Date, Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Narrative]
25-Mar-2016 23:34	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Date, Registration, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
25-Mar-2016 23:49	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Date, Cn, Location, Country, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
25-Mar-2016 23:50	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Narrative]
25-Mar-2016 23:51	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Date]
01-Jun-2016 18:31	bkallsen	Updated [Time]
18-Oct-2016 06:17	Anon.	Updated [Narrative]
14-Jan-2019 18:13	OS2 Farral	Updated [Narrative]
01-Feb-2022 14:02	TB	Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport]
30-Oct-2022 13:20	MCPO Richard Smith	Updated [Date]
04-Jul-2023 06:35	Anon.	Updated [[Date]]
18-Nov-2023 17:18	rvargast17	Updated [Date]