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.
You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Thursday 6 July 1978 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  McDonnell Douglas F-15A Eagle |
| Owner/operator: | 22nd TFSqn /36th TFWg USAF |
| Registration: | 76-0053 |
| MSN: | 0237/A205 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | near Salm, Landkreis Vulkaneifel -
 Germany
|
| Phase: | Unknown |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Bitburg AB (BBJ/ERAB) |
The accident F-15 was one of a flight of four en route to an Air Combat Tactics/Air Refuelling mission. After take-off from Bitburg the aircraft formated for a standard instrument departure and established radio and radar contact with departure control.
Shortly after, the departure radar failed and the flight leader, Adler 21, was: informed that radar contact had been lost. Adler 21 told departure control that he was in visual meteorological conditions (free of cloud) and was instructed to continue the instrument departure. Radar contact was re-established one minute later, by which time the flight was flying level in cloud at 7,000ft.
Departure control requested all aircraft except the flight, leader to switch off their radar transponders. Shortly after, Adler 24 called "Four is lost wingman," indicating that he had lost contact with the flight. Adler 21 acknowledged. Seventeen seconds later Adler 23 called "Two-three is lost wingman." The flight leader acknowledged and informed departure control of his lost wingmen, requesting permission to climb above the clouds.
The flight was cleared to climb to 20,000ft, but Adler 21 levelled off above the clouds at 9,500ft. Adler 23 rejoined the flight visually. A radio, radar and visual search failed to locate Adler 24. The aircraft crashed in a wood 13 nautical miles north-north-east of Bitburg AFB. The canopy was still on the aircraft and ejection had not been initiated. The pilot (1st Lt. Mike Mark) was killed on impact.
Sources:
Weser-Kurier 7 July 1978, p11
3. http://web.archive.org/web/20171029221354/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/aircraft_by_type/f-15.htm
5. http://www.f-15.nl/wo.html
6. http://75bestalive.org/gbnf_pages/gbnf_mark.html
7. https://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=174794
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 01-Apr-2012 15:49 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 02-Apr-2012 11:51 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Operator, Location, Phase, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 02-Apr-2012 12:51 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 02-Apr-2012 13:06 | Anon. | Updated [Location, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 25-Aug-2013 19:48 | Uli Elch | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Narrative, ] |
| 12-Jul-2016 00:26 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Source, ] |
| 12-Jul-2016 00:27 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Operator, ] |
| 12-Jul-2016 00:34 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 12-Jul-2016 00:35 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Departure airport, ] |
| 03-Mar-2017 19:45 | Anon. | Updated [Location, Phase, ] |
| 03-Jun-2017 15:46 | Anon. | Updated [Location, Departure airport, ] |
| 24-May-2019 19:49 | Anon. | Updated [Operator, ] |
| 24-May-2019 19:49 | Anon. | Updated [Operator, ] |
| 15-Jun-2020 15:40 | Anon. | Updated [Narrative, ] |
| 30-May-2021 10:23 | Anon. | Updated [Operator, Location, Operator, ] |
| 02-Jun-2025 18:42 | TB | Updated [Location, Departure airport, ] |
| 05-Jun-2025 12:46 | TB | Updated [Location, Phase, Source, Narrative, ] |
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:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation