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| Date: | Tuesday 9 January 1962 |
| Time: | 19:13 |
| Type: |  North American A3J-1 Vigilante |
| Owner/operator: | United States Navy |
| Registration: | 147862 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, Atlantic Ocean off coast of Florida -
 Atlantic Ocean
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | NAS Sanford, FL |
| USS Franklin D. Roosevelt |
Landing gear was torn off when striking the carrier's ramp on landing attempt at night. The aircraft continued along the deck and fell into the sea. Pilot Cmdr Bud Gear was lost.
During carquals of A3J, A3D and ADs aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt off Florida. Time 1913 Hours an A3J 147862 (side number 262) went into the water, port side. Ramp strike. Slid across deck without engaging wires and crashed into sea off port side then sank in 20 fathoms (120’) of water. He hit the round down on his first night landing and aircraft fell off the angle for the first fleet loss of a Vigilante. Landing gear struck round down, did not engage wires, pilot did not apply full power for go around.
SAR concluded at time 2038 with negative results except for small fragments of wreckage. Pilot was flying solo. He was the CO of VAH-7. His body was not recovered.
VAH-7 pilot was Commander Bud B. Gear
Sources:
http://www.forgottenjets.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/A-5.html
Sarasota Herald-Tribune 11 January 1962, p20
Florence Morning News Jan 14 1962
USS Franklin D. Roosevelt deck log
Location
Images:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 14-Jan-2022 21:05 | TB | Updated [Time, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Country, Phase, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 09-Jul-2024 11:19 | ChrisB | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Location, Country, Departure airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Photo, ] |
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