Date:	Friday 18 September 1987
Time:	night
Type:	Grumman A-6E Intruder
Owner/operator:	VA-145, US Navy
Registration:	161105
MSN:	I-617
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Aircraft missing
Location:	USS Ranger, North Arabian Sea, off Pakistan -   Pakistan
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	USS Ranger (CVA-61) Persian Gulf/North Arabian Sea
Destination airport:	USS Ranger (CVA-61) Persian Gulf/North Arabian Sea
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
A-6E TRAM BuNo. 161105/NE 507 of VA-145 "Swordsmen" shore based at Whidbey Island, Washington, Naval Air Station.
On September 18, 1987, aboard the USS Ranger, crashed into Arabian Sea off Pakistan, while on a routine night-time mission. at approximately 16.1 nautical miles astern of the USS Ranger, at approximate position 18°23’36” N; 60°30’36” E, bearing 011 magnetic. According to the following contemporary press release:

"SEARCH CALLED OFF FOR AIRMEN MISSING IN ARABIAN SEA, NAVY SAYS
AP , Associated Press
Sep. 21, 1987 10:07 AM ET
OAK HARBOR, WASH. OAK HARBOR, Wash. (AP) Two men missing after an attack jet crashed in the northern Arabian Sea have been declared lost at sea and presumed dead, a spokeswoman at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station said. The aircraft carrier USS Ranger reported that search and rescue operations were suspended at sunset Saturday, with no sign of the crew of the A-6E Intruder jet, spokeswoman Mariana Graham said Sunday.

The crew, assigned to the Ranger and based at Whidbey Island, were Lt. Cmdr. Dennis J. Seipel, the pilot, and Lt. Stephen H. Healy, the bombardier- navigator, Ms. Graham said. She said she did not have ages or residences for the men, but Seipel's parents are from Gilbert, Ariz., and Healy's parents are from New Castle, Del.

The attack jet disappeared Friday evening while on a routine training mission, Ms. Graham said. Searchers found wreckage near where the plane was last reported, and she said it would be used to try to determine a cause of the crash.

The Navy said the A-6E was returning to the Ranger when it disappeared. The Ranger arrived in late August in the northern Arabian Sea to relieve the carrier USS Constellation and provide air cover for U.S. convoys through the Persian Gulf.

Its station, due south of Pakistan, is within flight range of the Strait of Hormuz, the approach to the Persian Gulf.
Aircraft from the Ranger are sent over the strait whenever a convoy passes through. The aircraft are supposed to confront any Iranian fighters and attack anti-ship missile batteries if Iran prepares to fire them, Pentagon officials have said."

Both crew - Lt Commander Dennis J. Seipel (pilot) and Lt Stephen J. Healy (bombardier/navigator) were declared "Lost at sea, presumed dead”. According to the following eyewitness report

"During approach, rate of descent kept constant from beginning of approach to end. Normally the rate of descent is about 5000 feet per minute until 20 miles (5000 feet) and then reduced to 1200 feet per minute until arriving at 1200 feet altitude. In this case, the plane shallowed the rate of descent momentarily and then went back to 5000 fpm until impact about 13 miles behind the ship. Parts of the plane recovered the next day, with personal items from the pilot and B/N."

The cause of the crash was not determined, nor is it likely to be determined. The A-6 Intruder was on a CV-1 approach for recovery at night to the RANGER. While executing a turn to the Final Bearing approximately 13 miles astern the secondary radar track that gives controllers altitude and call sign information was not displayed. Moments later the video target, or radar "blip", disappeared. Radar and radio contact was lost at this point. The S-3 Viking on the approach 5 miles in trail of Rustler 507 reported that he saw a flash of light ahead of him that could have been in the vicinity of 507. Loss of situational awareness while attempting to handle an onboard emergency was likely the cause of the aircrew flying into the ocean. I do not believe an official cause was ever determined due to the absence of an inspection of the wreckage. 9

1. Eyewitness report: Part of the squadron I was in at the time. We were on cruise in the North Arabian Sea. VA-145.
2. http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries21.html
3. http://web.archive.org/web/20180422222159/http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/A-6.html
4. http://web.archive.org/web/20171103001143/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/aircraft_by_type/a6_prowler.htm
5. https://www.findagrave.com/page=gr&GRid=24339926
6. http://articles.latimes.com/1987-09-20/news/mn-9048_1_a-6e-intruder
7. http://articles.philly.com/1987-09-21/news/26207049_1_airman-routine-flight-whidbey-island
8. http://www.apnewsarchive.com/1987/Search-Called-Off-For-Airmen-Missing-In-Arabian-Sea-Navy-Says/id-7e9d3cc53b1502bc1bd097a81eda831c
9. Personal account. CATCC Controller OC Division. Btn 15 Approach Controller assigned control of Rustler 507.

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
10-Jan-2009 11:55	ASN archive	Added
27-Nov-2011 11:40	harro	Updated [Total fatalities, Total occupants, Location, Phase, Source, Narrative]
11-Oct-2014 08:59	kdbones	Updated [Time, Cn, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
11-Oct-2014 09:07	kdbones	Updated [Operator]
03-Apr-2016 22:31	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Cn, Operator, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
03-Apr-2016 22:36	Dr.John Smith	Updated [Narrative]
17-Aug-2016 19:29	RangerCATCC61	Updated [Source, Damage, Narrative]