Accident North American A-5A Vigilante 149290, Thursday 19 September 1963
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Date:Thursday 19 September 1963
Time:23:32
Type:Silhouette image of generic vigi model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
North American A-5A Vigilante
Owner/operator:US Navy
Registration: 149290
MSN:
Fatalities:Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:0
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Location:Mediterranean Sea -   Mediterranean Sea
Phase: En route
Nature:Military
Departure airport:USS Independence (CVA-62)
Destination airport:USS Independence (CVA-62)
Narrative:
Crashed into water, port side of ship. Crew (LCDR James R. Conrey, LT Theodore C. Garrett) did not survive. Aircraft attached to VAH-1 Squadron, modex AG604.

Operating off of USS Independence at 2332 hours, this A-5A went into the water, port side (depth 1,650 fathoms or 9.900’). Possible ramp strike but deck log does not specify.
Just 10 minutes prior F-4B Phantom BuNo 150637 had gone in the water after a ramp strike and sheared gear. The crew of the F-4B had ejected and were recovered at 2356 by destroyer USS Lawe. Carrier remained in area where the A-5A was lost with three destroyers conducting SAR: USS Lawe, USS Dyess and USS J. C. Owens. Crew was never recovered. Another source: “broke its back on night landing and went into sea.”

VAH-1 Crew:
Lt Commander James R. Conrey, pilot
Lt Theodore C. Garrett, BN

Sources:

http://www.forgottenjets.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/A-5.html
USS Independence deck log and cruise book
“North American A-5A/RA-5C Vigilante (Naval Fighters, 64)” by Steve Ginter
USS Independence deck log

Location

Images:


Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
30-Jan-2022 19:25 fabiop Updated [Time, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, ]
22-Feb-2022 17:24 TB Updated [Other fatalities, Country, Category, ]
09-Jul-2024 12:02 ChrisB Updated [Source, Narrative, Category, Photo, ]

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