Aircraft by type

McDonnell Douglas
F-15 Eagle
Losses & Ejections

PLEASE CAN YOU HELP WITH ANY AIRCRAFT or CREW PHOTOS ??
OR
ADD / AMEND ANY DETAILS

   Operators

Air Force

based

This is regarding the aircraft listed 75-0085 (very lovingly known as balls 85) from Nellis AFB Nevada.

I was the Asst. C/C on that aircraft at the time of the crash. At the time of the crash the 2 seaters were known as TF-15A's. It was decades ago but I still remember getting called out of the hanger by OSI immediately after the crash. I had launched and recovered Colonel "Jake" Jacobsen many times and he was a great guy and a fine pilot. He was one of the few pilots that treated ground crew with respect and a smile.

The cause of the crash was never exactly determined. but afaik it was assumed that the Hospital Commander pulled back on the stick too fast and too hard effectively snowplowing into the side of a mountain on the Tonopah range. Both pilots ejected but hit the mountain before the chutes deployed. I was not allowed to be a part of the recovery but was told that there were three impacts, 1 plane and 2 seats packs.

I mean no disrespect to the Hospital Commander in anyway but it was believed to be his fault. I do not remember him as a person but I am sure he was a fine man. Because of this crash the Air Force made a policy that never would two Commanders be on the same plane at the same time. I do not know if this rule still applies.

Marty Johnson
in email 22nd November 2008

CONFIRM

Engine

 flamed out during ACM with F‑5Es into North Sea 15 miles SW of Doggersbank, off the coast of Cromer, Norfolk (UK)

CONFIRM

in email 25/01/2008

PHOTOS to ADD from desktop

I would like to add a few things to a couple of your F-15 crashes of which I have knowledge.  First the 80-0007 crash at Soesterberg.
80-0007 was selected to go to the show because it was a brand new jet that the 525 TFW had just received from the factory days before.  It had a flight time to Bitburg from St. Louis of 10.5 hours and then had one acceptance flight lasting about 1.2 hours before going to Soesterberg.  80-0007 was the newest F-15 that ever crashed with  less than 15 flying hours total.  The paint job was nice and didn't even need a touchup before going.  MSGT Ray Langhammer who was the production super on the trip is said to have commented to his troops after witnessing the crash, "well that one won't be needing a BPO (Basic Postflight) tonight".

in email 20th May 2008 *continued

 53 TFS

CONFIRM

I was assigned to Nellis AFB as an F-15 crew chief from Feb 1977 until March 1980.

I was sad to learn that my aircraft, 74-0120 died on March 20, 1985.

This aircraft was one of the most efficient and well kept aircraft while stationed at Nellis.  It was part of the ACEVAL/AIMVAL test program. At one point during my tenure as its assgined crew chief the aircraft flew 28 consective sorties code one.  I take pride in that as its crew chief, but 120 had a history of exceptional flight performance both before I was assigned as its crew chief and after I PCS'd and another crew chief took my place.

I read the list of F-15 crashes and ejections with great interest.

I was on the line the day 74-0129 had the midair collision with the F-5.  Major Merrick was the pilot of the F-15, I believe his first name was Russell.  His first flight back in the air after the incident was in my aircraft, 74-0111.  During our walk around inspection I told Maj. it was good to see him back.  He told me he had punched out of an F-4 when he was in Viet Nam.  He then paused and looked at me and said the Air Force grounds a pilot after a 3rd ejection.
"I wont ever punch out again, if there is a next time, I will play like the Navy and go down with the ship".
The F-5 had video footage of the collision.  The F-5 and F-15 were flying an ACEVAL/AIMVAL training mission 1 v 1.  At some point during the "dog fight" they turned into each other and one of the dummy missile attached to the wing missle rail struck the F-15 just aft of the air refueling door.  The F-5 flew through the F-15s twin tails with its wings perpendicular to the F-15s wings.  Major Merrick declared an IFE and intended to return to Nellis.  He told me that he could see flames coming up the backbone of the aircraft and decided it was time to leave and ejected.

I was also friends with SrA Gina Miller, the crew chief of 74-0136 the day it crashed, and A1C Steve Hinds, the crew chief of 75-0055 when it crashed.

I was also working the line the day 75-00085 crashed and we lost Col. Jacobson. 

James Ratcliff
Msgt, USAF (retired)
in email 15th November 2008
 

CONFIRM

The 2 Jan 86 crash in Iceland of tail 80-0037.

The pilot Steve Nelson was killed.  He had just previously converted
from the F-4.  I flew F-4s with Steve and left Iceland in December.

Tom Martin
in email 4th April 2008

As a former egress systems technician, I love your site and I thought I'd offer the following account regarding the USAF F-15 mid-air collision listed on 7 Jan 1986:
 
I personally witnessed this horrible accident from the ground at Zweibrucken Air Base in Germany.  As I was performing some mid-afternoon maintenance on an RF-4C Phantom which was parked outside, I observed the two mishap F-15's, which were from Bitburg Air Base located northwest of Zweibrucken, flying towards the south at approximately 7,000 - 10,000 feet in standard wingman formation.  When almost directly overhead, the two F-15's began to bank towards the west. The first jet (#1) was in lead position and appeared to be turning tighter than the second jet (#2) which was trailing slightly behind and off of #1's starboard wing.  As the turn progressed, #2 appeared to be either trying to catch up to #1 in order to maintain his formation position or maneuvering to change his position when he suddenly crashed into #1 with #2's twin vertical tail fins appearing to impact directly beneath #1's forward fuselage.  I did not observe any type of canopy jettison or ejection from #1 but I witnessed an object coming out of #1's cockpit which I was later informed had been #1's ejection seat and pilot being forced upward thru the canopy and out of the aircraft by the impact.  As the two aircraft separated after impact, the canopy of #2 jettisoned and the pilot ejected. 
 
At this time, I briefly looked around me as coworkers who also observed the accident made various exclamations like "Holy shit!".  When I again looked up, I observed the two pilots descending by their parachutes as the two F-15's were falling from the sky.  One F-15 appeared to be falling directly towards the base while the other followed a trajectory towards the nearby village of Rimschweiler which was located just outside the western perimeter of our base.  In addition to the two falling aircraft, we were also concerned about the debris we observed falling towards us which consisted of external tanks, a couple large tail fin or wing segments, etc. and thus we quickly sought cover inside the nearby hardened aircraft shelter.   
 
Shortly thereafter, both aircraft and the debris began impacting the ground with one aircraft crashing into the village of Rimschweiler where it killed a German civilian who was working inside a barn-type structure.  If I remember correctly, the second aircraft impacted a vacant field on or near the air base.  The debris fell not only upon the base where it damaged several cars & structures but also upon the nearby autobahn and areas surrounding the base without causing any major damage.  Fortunately, no other personnel were seriously injured or killed on the ground.  
 
After hearing the two aircraft impact the ground, I and the others cautiously peered skyward from within the aircraft shelter's open doors to observe one of the pilots still descending by parachute (later determined to be the pilot of #1).  He didn't appear to be controlling his descent or making any movements as he glided towards a group of trees where rescue personnel subsequently found him to be a fatality. NOTE: at the time, there was some uncertainty over how pilot #1 manually separated from the seat and deployed his parachute since his ACES-II ejection seat was not fired (this was confirmed during a cursory visual assessment at the site of seat/ground impact which indicated the twin side-mounted ejection handles were still stowed, the pitch stabilization control assembly/vernier rocket located on the bottom of the seat was not activated, and the drogue/stabilization chute was not deployed).  The main parachute may have been manually deployed by activation of what was then known as the emergency restraint release handle (now known as the emergency manual chute handle) but doing so would've required the pilot to first squeeze/pull the handle and then manually push upwards on the parachute container subsequent to the seat being forced out of the aircraft (this scenario would of course depend upon the pilot being conscious and physically capable of performing the required actions).  Possible impact damage to the seat structure incurred during collision also may have activated the emergency restraint release handle or associated mechanical linkages resulting in uncommanded pilot/seat separation and parachute deployment.  Unfortunately, I didn't personally examine the seat or read an official investigation report for this mishap and thus I can't confirm if/how the emergency manual chute system was activated.
                                   
The second pilot whom I'd earlier observed descending by parachute was either out of my field of vision or had successfully landed by this time.

To this day.........I can remember the events that happened very clearly.  It was a very emotional event and still is something that sticks with me.  It was the first time I had read an eye witness account of the crash.  While he was watching the crash I was waiting for 0032 to land, it was "not a good day"
 

Lost when the pilot was teaching a younger   pilot how to ridge hop a mountain.  Unfortunately the aircraft struck   the top of the ridge and disintegrated killing the pilot.

Terry Hill
in email Friday 3rd August 2007

F-15A 77-153 was my friend's personal aircraft when he was with the   9TFS, 49TFW but was not flying it when the accident occurred.  77-153 
collided head on with F-15A 77-083, 8 miles Northwest of Bingham, New   Mexico.  The collision occurred when a flight of 4 F-15's were   performing interception practice.  3 aircraft were flying in trail   formation with the fourth making head on intercepts.  The first   intercept had occurred when the pilot of 77-153 mistook the number 3   aircraft as number 2.  Focused in on number 3 the pilot of 153 did   not see 083 the number 2 aircraft in trail until the last second.    Breaking hard 153 tore the radome off of 083, 153 then fell into a   flat inverted spin at which time one of the wings departed the   aircraft. 

The pilot of 153 was able to eject even though he was   forced forward and doubled over the control stick.  The pilot of 153   sustained facial injuries when the blood vessels in his face burst   due to the G forces and improper positioning for ejection.  The pilot   of 083 was able to nurse his aircraft back to Holloman, AFB for an   emergency landing.  Upon landing the pilot of 083 retarded the   throttles at which time the both flamed out due to FOD damage.  083   also sustained damage to one of the wings  and took almost a year of repairs to return to flight status.

Terry Hill
in email Friday 3rd August 2007

Also... the mid-air collision on September 12,1986 of 77-0153 and 77-0086 (Both were assigned to the 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron) occurred during a routine training flight when the pilot of 77-0153 unknowingly maneuvered his aircraft into the path of 77-0086.  Although both engines incurred severe "foreign object ingestion" damage, the entire radome was reduced to a splintered mass, the radar antenna had been ripped from the bulkhead it was mounted to, numerous avionics components and access panels had been dislodged and were either ingested or plummeted to the desert, a portion of the right wingtip was missing and numerous "minor" impact damages to the vertical and horizontal stabilizers... the pilot was able to fly it back to base with minimal effort.  This aircraft (77-0086) sat on airframe jacks for quite some time as it was repaired in our maintenance hanger.

The pilot from 77-0153 safely ejected with minor injuries.  It was rumored he had been found hitch-hiking back to base... but I tend to not believe that.

Ken Thompson
in email 22nd October 2007

Crashed when the aircraft was taking off and a rudder   malfunction caused an uncommanded roll from which the pilot could not   recover.  Terry Hill
in email Friday 3rd August 2007

I sincerely hope you are still monitoring this as I have some more information for you regarding two F-15A incidents at Holloman AFB, New Mexico.

I was stationed at Holloman AFB as an F-15 crewchief from 12/1985 until12/1989 in the 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 49th Tactical Fighter Wing.  I had the privilege to launch and recover Lieutenant Colonel Gene Jackson a few times during my time at this base.  He was one of the few high-ranking pilots I ever encountered that would treat enlisted personnel with respect and with light-hearted banter.

During the early afternoon of March 9, 1987 F-15A 77-0075 (Assigned to the 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron) was departing Holloman AFB enroute to the Hawaiian Air National Guard for a permanent transfer.  In order to save time following an extensive and lengthy transfer inspection it was decided that the aircraft would complete its required Operational Check Flight (OCF) while configured for long range having three FULL 600-gallon external fuel tanks installed, which is totally against standard operating procedures.  If the aircraft performed without problems the pilot agreed to continue his flight to Hawaii.  All ground checks were completed with no noted anomalies and the flight was permitted.

Almost immediately after rotation the F-15 pitched up into an excessively high AOA not able to gain enough airspeed to climb rapidly.  Numerous times the pilot was told to eject but he refused stating the aircraft was too unstable and every time he released the controls the aircraft started rolling towards base housing, the flight line, or the highway.  He fought the aircraft until it was no longer a threat to anyone but was unable to eject in time to save his own life.  I consider him an "unsung hero" and I have found it difficult to locate any information about him.

AFHRA Personal Papers - Lt. Col. Gene Jackson

Whether is collided with something like a telephone pole or telephone wires, as some rumours stated, or the aircraft just stalled too close to the ground I don't know.  I'm also not 100% positive about the cause except I vaguely remember being told it had been traced to rod-end link connecting two hydro-mechanical flight control units that had not been properly safe tied.

Ken Thompson
in email 22nd October 2007

 77-0075 was the first F-15 I ever worked on.  It was in my "realm of responsibilities" until it was scheduled for transfer to the Hawaiian ANG.  It had also been used extensively as a demonstration aircraft when our squadron (9th AMU / 9th TFS) was tasked with the performances.
 

Mike,

I revisited your website this evening and read the entries from Terry Hill.  I was mistaken about the tail number 77-0086 for the incident on 9/12/1986.  It is absolutely true it was really 77-0083.  I believe my errant memory is recalling an F-15 I worked at either Bitburg AB or Edwards AFB years later.

Also, seems he has somewhat confirmed the info I had regarding the cause of 77-0075's crash.  One of the two hydro-mechanical units is called the Aileron-Rudder Interconnect and deals with the operation of those control surfaces.

Ken

Thanks to webmaster www.slobberinwolfhounds.com for update 14th August 2007

CHECK LOCATION

after collision with F‑161379‑0419/HI 466th TFS 419th TFW (which landed safely),

The actual tail number  was masked by a large "4th."

Major Thomas E. Griffith,
Jr

Col. David W. Eberly ejected - evaded capture until 22nd January 1991 POW

128th TFS 116th TFW GA

 ANG

FEEDBACK

FEEDBACK

I was stationed at Kadena when 497 went down.  I believe an engine shelled and severed the  rods/cables to the stabilator.  Aircrew tried to nose up to gain altitude and stalled.

Also, I was at Bitburg in 92 when the young Lt crashed.  If memory serves me, it was during an exercise and he had just gotten to the base.  I believe he was still in billeting with his wife.  They believe he scrambled without his mask on or at least G-locked and flew into the ground.

Dave Cunningham
in email 9th November 2008

following G‑induced loss of consciousness on his first solo flight,

 Crashed into Yellow Sea, 2 miles of Boryong (South Korea), after collision with F‑16C 87‑0274/WP

80th FS 8th FW (also crashed).

336th FS

pilot Capt.

 Brian J. Udell ejected was rescued by USCG

pilot Maj. Donald G. Lowry died on his way

to the hospital

100 miles E of Elmendorf AFB (AK) in Yukon‑Charley Rivers National Preserve, during

 exercise Cope Thunder,

10th January 1997

85-0099
EG

 58 FS

pilot Maj. Pete

 Whelan ejected safely

1st Lt.

 David M. Nyikos ejected.  was rescued by USCG helo an hour later

391 FS

85 TES / 53 WG

85 TES / 53 WG

Capt. William Cooley

Both rescued by helos

WHO WAS IN WHICH AIRCRAFT ???

Hi,

I was the Air Battle Manager during a mid-air that occurred at Nellis AFB.  The mission was a Y2K testing and involved two F-15 Eagles.
I think 15 Jun 98 and 15 Jun 99 crashes are the same, but mines occurred in 1999. 
Take a look and see.  No deaths but minor injuries to both pilots.

in email 5th February 2008
details amended 5/2/08
 

110th FS
131st FW
Missouri Air National Guard

"Correction on the F-15E crash at RAF Lakenheath, 12 September 2000.  The pilot and WSO did not eject.  They were removed from the aircraft after the accident by two USAF Security Forces airmen and three maintainers.  I was one of the responding Security Forces personnel.  The WSO's restraints had to be cut in order to get him out.  Both individuals were injured in the incident.  The pilot received a concussion, no further details, and the WSO had numerous unknown wounds . . . ."

in email 31st January 2008

Lt. Col. Kenneth Hyvonen killed

I launched 86169 on her last flight. Lt. Col. Hyvonen was in 69 also it was not a  low-level training mission, but a pre depo flight with 3 bags "external tanks" that we had hung the night before for the flight back to the the States. The aaib found the A.TC. at fault for the accident. One more thing the sq. was the 493 not  492
in email received 15th February 2008
amended 15-02-08

6th April 2003
16:50

SL
78-0571
[ from 110 FS
St.Louis-Lambert]

 CONFIRM ??

Maj. Gregory D. Young died in the crash

80-0034

SL
???
St.Louis-Lambert

199th FS

154th Wing
Hawaii Air National Guard

news link

Hello. I just checked out your site Get Out and Walk very nice site. Lots of research. My hat is off to u for that.. Bit of info : F-15D of 65th Aggr. Sdn. lost on 7/30/08 was a/c serial # 85-131. Info courtesy of Combat Aircraft magazine. I have pictures of -131 @ Nellis Aviation Nation 2007. Will scan and send pics soon. Check me out @ JeffsJets.Net. A simple site that is growing...                                          
Respectfully

Jeff Mizell
in email 21st January 2009 

Air Force

based

Crew did not have time to react to order given by their Sqn Cmdr to "Eject"

24th January 1997

[also seen as 13th or 19th January 1997]

CONFIRM ???

52/B010  

DETAILS ???

Air Force

based

About 20 km south of Tomakomai City, Hokkaidou, above Pacific Ocean, had

fuel system problem and crashed into Sea of the coast of Northern Japan.

Komatsu AFB

Air Force

based

"80 KILOMETER WEST OF KING ABDULAZIZ AIR BASE IN THE EASTERN SECTOR"

[SOURCES: KUNA; Saudi Arabian Media; Pakistan Defence Forum]

Peter Steehouwer for permission to reproduce his photos of the 1981 Soesterberg mishap at the airshow
Visit his excellent website www.steehouwer.com for more aviation related photographs