Mishap of B-52 at Fairchild Air Force Base Washington

Bad aeronautical Decision Making, Rule one of being a pilot, and it can cost you your life, as seen here. To bad the higher ups here did not stress it.

Apparently it couldnt.

it's not a stunt plane

I never thought a B 52 could even maneuver that way! The ending is the last thing you want to see at an airshow or anywhere else.

you hope lessons were learned, but if you see the vids of an A310 flying low and banking 25 or so degrees at 30 feet of height you´ll see those folks haven´t learned anything.

There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are very few old, bold pilots. You've heard that before.

Holland should have been grounded at least 20 times based on what I saw in this one video ALONE. That he was allowed to fly like that was a case of criminal negligence on the part of anyone above him in the chain of command who didn't ground him. Holland's end was foretold. I'm glad it just didn't happen at an airshow and kill many spectators. I hope lessons were learned.

RIP Paul Hamilton... He had the good sense to see the writing on the wall when the general demanded more aggressive flying. By macabre coincidence, taking himself off the flight STILL didn't save his life: Paul died in his car, killed by backflash from his crew's accident. We never learn, do we? As I stood at him memorial, watching a trembling young widow being handed a flag in the drizzle, a KC-135 streaked overhead... Idiotic, if you ask me. I declined the Thunderhawks invitation.

My dad was an aircraft mechanic out at Fairchild. He used to work on the planes Holland flew. Holland would bring the planes back in poor shape with fuel leaking everywhere. They say Holland banked that steep to avoid a no fly zone over the nuke storage, but that's crap. I'm sure they've let other's fly closer than that... especially during an airshow (or practice).

My dad was a aircraft mechanic out at Fairchild. He worked on the planes Holland flew. Holland would bring them back all banged up with fuel leaking all over the place. He shouldn't have been allowed to fly. They say he was banking so steep to avoid a no fly zone over the nuke storage area, but that's crap. I'm sure they've allowed others to fly closer ... especially during an airshow.

If you don't understand physics, you shouldn't be allowed to pilot a plane...

That was the worst case of over confidence, I have ever scene... digusting and expensive mistake...

I was stationed there as a young GI when in 86 or so when one brilliant Commander thought refueling a 52 over the runway would make for a good air show. Operation Thunderhawk? Well, they practiced for some time before the KC135came down in the BX parking lot. Killed 7, I think. Crew and one on the ground. I was trapped like a rat in a cage waiting to access a secure weapons area. Saw the whole show.. Unfortunately. They should have stopped hot dogging at that point.

you only make that mistake once...

he had no lift... .due to the angle of the bank, no lift = drop.

but of course nobody in command got in trouble and taxpayers foot the bill for the plane

This crash has a lot more to do with disregard for flight envelope and rules plus failure to execute in the command chain than it has to do with airshow safety. The turn was done at too low an airspeed causing the inboard wing to stall half way around the circuit leading to a roll further to the left, the nose dipping and the inevitable crash. Simply bad flying. If you wreck yourself flying hairy when solo then fair enough. You have a responsibility to your crew when you have one. very sad.

this guy was hot dogging it plain and simple.

It has been repeatedly said that no one really wanted to fly with Holland because of his antics. It is obvious many of those maneuvers are out of the recommended envelope of the B-52. Why the hell did command staff continue to allow him to fly like that? I agree with all said that McGeehan was a hero in the context that he tried to stop Holland risking his career in doing so. It is too bad the command staff didn't have the balls to do the right thing & ground Holland before he killed his crew!

so did he stall out on a too sharp of a turn?

kayeaug04: You are correct they were airmen, however that wouldn't fit the commonly used metaphor.

If they were following proper protocol the pilot shouldn't have flown, however I think he was under orders to fly. So once again that's a systemic problem.

The B-52 is a Air Force plane so they are not Soldiers they were Airman. I was at Fairchild AFB when this happened. It was a very sad week. It took the lives of the Wing Commander. The pilot wasnt even suppose to be flyin he was under investigation. I dont really remember everything from it. But in the same week there was a shooting in the Hospital. That is a week I will never forget.

Who was the pilot? Major Kong?

Is this all footage of the same pilot? Either way, its sad to see.

Terminator484:McGeehan was ordered against his wishes to be the copilot on this flight. Like a good soldier McGeehan followed orders. McGeehan could have refused to fly the mission, unfortunately that would've almost certainly been disputed and faced with reprisals. Unfortunately command did not take the copilot's advice. If command took the cruise advice and grounded Bud Holland, this tragedy would have been averted. The details are in the video description and links.

Terminator484: IMAO The copilot McGeehan is not to blame, on the contrary I would consider him a hero. The copilot had the fortitude, honor and integrity to stand up to Bud Holland. McGeehan filed a formal complaint against Bud Holland's flying. Unfortunately no one took heed of the copilot's warning. Instead the copilot was ridiculed, many speculate that may be why he opted to retire. (Thanks Monkeybonk)

The copilot was actually trying to get the guy stripped of flying status. He'd been trying for years, and finally said enough was enough and was going to ride along so he could testify against him. Then the pilot blew him up.