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| Date: | Thursday 1 September 1988 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Sikorsky HH-3E Sea King (S-61R) |
| Owner/operator: | 129th ARRS, 129th ARRG, USAF |
| Registration: | 65-12781 |
| MSN: | 61-556 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | |
| Location: | near Twentynine Palms, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Twentynine Palms, CA |
| George AFB, CA |
The HH-3E was on SAR training mission together with OV-10 Bronco aircraft of the 27th TASS near the USMC base at Twentynine Palms. Carrying one OV-10 pilot aboard as observer, another was playing the survivor role on the ground. After picking him up the helicopter returned to base, but while leaving the training area it struck a ridge 10 feet below the crest and crashed 450 feet behind the ridge, rolled to the left and caught fire. All four crewmen (pilot Maj. Terry A. Nelson, co-pilot LtCol Leslie E. Spencer, Sr., flight engineer Amn. Steven E. Courtney & pararescueman SSgt Steven E. Carlyle) and both passenger (1Lt James K. Dooley & 1Lt Patrick L. Henry) aboard were killed.
Sources:
https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1965.html
https://www.helis.com/database/cn/16749/
https://usafrotorheads.com/helo-timeline/
https://joeidoni.smugmug.com/Aircraft-Crash-Sites/HH/i-dwn4Nsx
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 23-Feb-2025 19:50 | Tetrapack | Added |
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