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| Date: | Wednesday 12 January 1972 |
| Time: | 18:24 |
| Type: |  North American RA-5C Vigilante |
| Owner/operator: | US Navy |
| Registration: | 156619 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | near NAS Albany, GA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | NAS Albany |
| NAS Albany | |
| Confidence Rating: |  Little or no information is available |
On GCA approach to NAS Albany, GA, in marginal WX, radar & tower contact was lost.
Approximately 6 miles out from Runway 22 the aircraft descended into the ground and both crew ejected safely for unknown (censored) reason. They were picked up by HH-1K helicopter.
Flying as “GJ-301” the mission was to chase another RA-5C on their TM-12 syllabus flight (low-level, photo chase).
Following the training flight and while conducting an idle TACAN penetration descent with a GCA pickup (off the Dawson DME fix) the aircraft dropped rapidly off radar inbound on the GCA approach. Gear was down and they were completing a right turn from 2,000’ dropping to maintain 1,400’. Weather was 500 feet scattered, 2,100 overcast, visibility 6 miles in haze.
The Vigilante crashed in heavily wooded swamp beside a lake.
Crew was with RVAH-3.
Pilot Lt Commander Donald T. Watts
RAN Lt Commander Paul E. Criswell
Sources:
http://www.forgottenjets.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/A-5.html
US Navy accident report
"RA-5C Vigilante" Osprey Combat Aircraft Series, Lindsay Peacock
Location
Images:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 04-Jun-2024 12:05 | ChrisB | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 05-Jun-2024 09:48 | ChrisB | Updated [Time, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Location, Country, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Category, Photo] |
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