ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 57222
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: | Monday 14 July 1986 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Grumman EA-6B Prowler |
| Owner/operator: | VAQ-133, US Navy |
| Registration: | 161778 |
| MSN: | P-101 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Central Indian Ocean, off the USS Enterprise -
 Indian Ocean
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | USS Enterprise (CVAN-65), Indian Ocean |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
EA-6B Prowler BuNo. 161778 of VAQ-133 "Wizards" (part of CVW‑9) on board the USS Enterprise (CVAN-65). Lost on July 14 1986 after a catapult launch, following “control malfunction”. Per one eyewitness: "I was on the flight deck that day as part of VA-95. The aircraft was lost due to a cold cat shot on cat 3 (waist catapult) in the Indian Ocean. The aircraft Commander landed on the flight deck after ejecting". According to the following eyewitness testimony from one of the crew involved:
"This was an ICAP II EA-6B in CVW-11 off USS ENTERPRISE (CVN-65) lost in the central Indian Ocean en route to Australia at the end of CCDG-3 WESTPAC-Indian Ocean-Mediterranean deployment where we conducted post-Libyan strike missions along the Khadafy "Line-of-death". This was a suspected stab disconnect down the catapult track and the aircraft pitched full-up after launch. You have the crew correct, we all ejected, but I was the first out, low from ECMO-3 and was blown back and hit the flight deck sustaining multiple injuries. The rest of the crew went in the water off the starboard side of the ship and were recovered. The only reason we made it out of that airplane was the quick reflex action of Lt Rob King who is a superb pilot.
After the first ejection everybody wanted to fly with me, but after the second, no one wanted to! - Captain Jim Bob Powell, US Navy"
All four crew - Lt Commander J. R. Powell, Lt. R. E. King, Lt (JG) R. D. Sandlin and Lt (JG) D. J. Shea - ejected safely. As noted above, Bob Powell was the ONLY one to land on deck – all others flew within days of the ejection, and he (Powell) was seriously injured hitting a turning A-6 on the bow of the Enterprise as he landed.
Sources:
1. Flight International 16 May 1987 p.40 at https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1987/1987%20-%200462.html
2. http://web.archive.org/web/20171103001143/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/aircraft_by_type/a6_prowler.htm
3. http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries21.html
4. http://nigelrsadler.webspace.virginmedia.com/ea6production.htm
5. https://www.flickr.com/photos/skyhawkpc/15885152931
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Jan-2009 11:55 | ASN archive | Added |
| 17-Mar-2016 23:25 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Cn, Operator, Location, Country, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 17-Mar-2016 23:28 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Departure airport, Narrative] |
| 03-Apr-2016 20:32 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Source] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation