Accident Boeing B-52B-35-BO Stratofortress 53-0390,
ASN logo
ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 48337
 
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information. If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.

Date:Thursday 19 January 1961
Time:
Type:Silhouette image of generic B52 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Boeing B-52B-35-BO Stratofortress
Owner/operator:334th BSqn /95th BWg USAF
Registration: 53-0390
MSN: 16869
Fatalities:Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 7
Aircraft damage: Destroyed
Location:north of Montichello, Utah -   United States of America
Phase: En route
Nature:Military
Departure airport:Biggs AFB, TX
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
Narrative:
Boeing B-52B-35-BO Stratofortress, 53-0390, c/n 16869, call sign FELON 22 of the 334th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Wing, Biggs AFB, Texas, crashed January 19, 1961. The aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 36,000 feet on a clear evening and was 41 minutes into an 8-hour flight. At 1819, fire was noted in the forward fuselage by the two surviving crew members. Onboard communications were lost and the aircraft began to nose down. Because of the imminent possibility of the bomber breaking up, the co-pilot made the decision to abandon the aircraft. As the bomber descended it broke into several major pieces. The B-52 dove straight into the ground and crashed in a field near Monticello, UT. Air Force investigations revealed the possibility of a fire or some type of explosion in the aircraft.

Of the crew of seven, only two survived.
Capt. John Marsh, Pilot, body found in wreckage
1st Lt Thomas Stout, CP, Ejected/Survived
Capt Harold Bonneville, RN, body found in wreckage
2nd Lt Jerome Calvert, N, Ejected/Survived
1st Lt Ivan Petty, EWO, body found in wreckage
TSgt David Forsythe, G, body found in wreckage
SSgt Lionel Terry, Flight Engineer, Ejected, but died from exposure

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_military_aircraft_(1960%E2%80%931974)#1961
http://web.archive.org/web/20171101061754/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/aircraft_by_type/b52_stratofortress.htm
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1953.html
http://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/images/95th_BW.html
http://www.mwrforum.net/forums/showthread.php?p=181182
https://www.newspapers.com/image/?spot=23583475#spot=23583475
https://www.newspapers.com/image/?spot=23583147#spot=23583147

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
07-Nov-2008 10:15 ASN archive Added
25-Oct-2009 22:12 JINX Updated
12-Feb-2013 14:56 Dr. John Smith Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative]
09-Sep-2018 19:52 joanied451 Updated [Total fatalities, Source, Narrative]
21-Dec-2019 08:53 Nepa Updated [Operator, Operator]
05-Apr-2020 19:48 Reno Raines Updated [Operator, Operator]

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:

CONNECT WITH US: FSF on social media FSF Facebook FSF Twitter FSF Youtube FSF LinkedIn FSF Instagram

©2024 Flight Safety Foundation

1920 Ballenger Av, 4th Fl.
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
www.FlightSafety.org