An Unusual B-17 accident
Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 11:24 am
This is one of the most unusual B-17 accidents that I have come across.
This B-17, with landing gear extended, landed horizontally (side to side) on a hill while in a bank that exactly matched the slope of the terrain--at night. Read on.
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7-24-43A. Ephrata, Washinginton. At 0054, a Boeing B-17F collided with a hill 10 miles north of the Army Air Base at Ephrata, Washington, killing thirteen airmen. The B-17 had returned from a bombing mission and was circling the area in an attempt to enter the traffic pattern for the base when the accident occurred seven miles north of the pattern area. Investigation revealed that the airplane was in a left bank that exactly matched the slope of a hill that the airplane was flying over. It is probable that the pilots could not see the surface because of darkness and were unaware of their proximity to the ground. The B-17 was configured for landing with flaps partially down and landing gear extended. The B-17 contacted the surface of the hill in a left bank on both main wheels and rolled about 200 yards before striking a horse that weighed an estimated 1,500 pounds. The horse was severely slashed in two places by the number-two propeller, which was knocked off by the collision. The collision with the horse knocked off the port landing gear. As the B-17 bounded back into the air for about 100 feet, the port landing gear and main wheel hurtled backward into the port horizontal stablizer and elevator, knocking them off. Other than the tracks made by the two main wheels, there were no marks on the ground that appeared to be made by the wings or the tail wheel, indicating that the airplane had been rolling on the hill on both main wheels when it collided with the horse. After colliding with the horse and losing the port landing gear, the airplane continued across a gully and collided with another hill, smashing up the hillside for about 400 yards, breaking up and bursting into flames. The main wreckage came to rest about one-half mile from the point of first contact with the terrain. Killed in the crash were: 2Lt. James P. Ticksman, pilot; 2Lt. John W. O'Cheskey, co-pilot; 2Lt. Jay D. Underwood, co-pilot; ; 2Lt. Julian M. Crapp, co-pilot; F/O Owen E. Longest, bombardier; Sgt. George L. Dobson, engineer; Sgt. Bobby P. Cone, engineer; Sgt. Edwin Johnstone, engineer; Sgt. Arthur D. Grant, engineer; Sgt. Werner F. Haukop, engineer; Sgt. George O. Cartwright, radio operator; Sgt. Annesley E. Hodson III, gunner; Sgt. William W. Aulwes, gunner. Copyright 2006, Anthony J. Mireles.
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This summary, which is based on the official AAF accident report, can be found on
page 448, Volume 2, FATAL ARMY AIR FORCES AVIATION ACCIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES, 1941-1945.
TM
This B-17, with landing gear extended, landed horizontally (side to side) on a hill while in a bank that exactly matched the slope of the terrain--at night. Read on.
.
.
.
7-24-43A. Ephrata, Washinginton. At 0054, a Boeing B-17F collided with a hill 10 miles north of the Army Air Base at Ephrata, Washington, killing thirteen airmen. The B-17 had returned from a bombing mission and was circling the area in an attempt to enter the traffic pattern for the base when the accident occurred seven miles north of the pattern area. Investigation revealed that the airplane was in a left bank that exactly matched the slope of a hill that the airplane was flying over. It is probable that the pilots could not see the surface because of darkness and were unaware of their proximity to the ground. The B-17 was configured for landing with flaps partially down and landing gear extended. The B-17 contacted the surface of the hill in a left bank on both main wheels and rolled about 200 yards before striking a horse that weighed an estimated 1,500 pounds. The horse was severely slashed in two places by the number-two propeller, which was knocked off by the collision. The collision with the horse knocked off the port landing gear. As the B-17 bounded back into the air for about 100 feet, the port landing gear and main wheel hurtled backward into the port horizontal stablizer and elevator, knocking them off. Other than the tracks made by the two main wheels, there were no marks on the ground that appeared to be made by the wings or the tail wheel, indicating that the airplane had been rolling on the hill on both main wheels when it collided with the horse. After colliding with the horse and losing the port landing gear, the airplane continued across a gully and collided with another hill, smashing up the hillside for about 400 yards, breaking up and bursting into flames. The main wreckage came to rest about one-half mile from the point of first contact with the terrain. Killed in the crash were: 2Lt. James P. Ticksman, pilot; 2Lt. John W. O'Cheskey, co-pilot; 2Lt. Jay D. Underwood, co-pilot; ; 2Lt. Julian M. Crapp, co-pilot; F/O Owen E. Longest, bombardier; Sgt. George L. Dobson, engineer; Sgt. Bobby P. Cone, engineer; Sgt. Edwin Johnstone, engineer; Sgt. Arthur D. Grant, engineer; Sgt. Werner F. Haukop, engineer; Sgt. George O. Cartwright, radio operator; Sgt. Annesley E. Hodson III, gunner; Sgt. William W. Aulwes, gunner. Copyright 2006, Anthony J. Mireles.
.
.
.
This summary, which is based on the official AAF accident report, can be found on
page 448, Volume 2, FATAL ARMY AIR FORCES AVIATION ACCIDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES, 1941-1945.
TM