55 Years ago today: On 25 June 1965 a USAF Boeing C-135A Stratolifter flew into a hillside shortly after a night time takeoff from El Toro MCAS, CA; killing all 84 on board.
| Date: | Friday 25 June 1965 |
| Time: | 01:46 |
| Type: | Boeing C-135A Stratolifter |
| Operator: | United States Air Force – USAF |
| Registration: | 60-0373 |
| C/n / msn: | 18148/C05 |
| First flight: | 1961-09-05 (3 years 10 months) |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney J57-P/F-59W |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 72 / Occupants: 72 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 84 / Occupants: 84 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | 5,1 km (3.2 mls) N of Santa Ana-El Toro MCAS, CA (NZJ) ( |
| Crash site elevation: | 351 m (1152 feet) amsl |
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Santa Ana-El Toro MCAS, CA (NZJ/KNZJ), United States of America |
| Destination airport: | Honolulu-Hickam AFB, HI (HIK), United States of America |
Narrative:
The C-135 Stratolifter originated at Fort Dix-McGuire AFB, NJ (WRI) and was bound for Okinawa, via Santa Ana-El Toro MCAS, CA (NZJ) and Hickam AFB (HIK), Hawaii. Weather was poor at El Toro when the airplane was ready to depart: thick fog and light drizzle. Takeoff was accomplished at night at 01:45 from runway 34R. After takeoff the pilot should have made a prescribed left turn. Instead, the airplane continued straight ahead. It contacted the 1,300-foot Loma Ridge, some 150 feet below the crest. The aircraft broke up and burst into flames.
