Mishap of B-52 at Fairchild Air Force Base Washington

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Please try to keep from using vulgarities and profanity. I feel we can make our points without using profanity. I have no problem with calling the pilot a jerk, however remember there can be children viewing this thread so try to keep suitable for public. July-7-2007

As far as I know is the first time this much of the video has been made readily available to the GP when I posted this on Youtube. ;)

More footage then I have seen on the net on this subject. Mishap 24 June 1994, a B-52H of the 325th Bomb Squadron, 92d Bomb Wing



In this photograph you can see what is apparently an ejection hatch.


This photograph was shot in mid-impact with the ground.


The photographs were shot in-between the time frame that there was apparently a plasma ball from the wing clipping power lines.

US air show standards are the highest, but this was a case of systemic disregard for safety. Since this crash, the bar has been set higher more enforcement and awareness.

It bothers me to see some other counties still have very poor safety at major air shows. The former soviet block has had several crashes that I would consider safety neglect a factor, if not the cause.

Aerobatics should not be done over crowds. Aerobatics should be kept in a safe margin away from the crowd and to some extent the flight line. I even frown on extremely low passes over crowds.

Pilots and management/command should have restraint from flying planes to extreme limits at air shows. A margin / buffer zone should be between the aerobatic area and the crowd.

The B-52 was just practicing; if he had crashed in a crowd at an air show the loss of life would be high. The B-52 did some low high speed passes over personnel area and flight line; if there was a failure, he could have possibly destroyed all the aircraft on the flight line (and equipment, buildings) or and killed a lot more personnel.

I love aircraft and air shows and the US. I hate to see a bunch more rules, I would prefer pilots and people in charge do there best to keep things safe with knowledge, reasonable action.

I think the US and many other countries have learned from this accident to take air show safety more rationally. However, a few air shows like to try to out perform other air shows with unsafe flashy showboat shows.

When you push the limits you tend to exponentially increase the risks. If a pilot makes a goof or if there is a failure, with buffer zones the risk to the crowd can be minimized.

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On 24 June 1994, a B-52H of the 325th Bomb Squadron, 92d Bomb Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base (AFB), Wash., crashed while preparing to land after practicing maneuvers for an air show, killing all four crewmen. The pilot in command had over a long period of time demonstrated a disregard for Air Force flying rules and regulations, and this was known by the senior commanders in the wing. No appropriate action had been taken to discipline him or rein in his noncompliant behavior.


More info at



In my opinion, I would consider this pilot a superb "stick and rudder" pilot. However there is more to being a pilot and flight then "stick and rudder", in my opinion he was very poor in some aspects of safety.

It's like a football player that is in excellent physical condition and physical ability, but ignores strategy and team effort. There is more to being a pilot than one aspect, just as there is more to being an athlete then a single aspect.

Other good videos long videos of the same plane and pilot. Courtesy of jescates




Channel: Science & Technology
Uploaded: November 27, 2006 at 7:21 am
Author: ATFSCrash

Length: 00:09:59
Rating: 4.29
Views: 1745044

Tags: Aerobatics B-52 Stratofortress Bomber Fairchild Air Force Base AFB USAF Mishap Crash Show Safety Bud Holland CRM

Video Comments:
unclesara (September 6, 2008 at 8:07 am)
This incident and its making is now taught at Boeing and Beechcraft as a case study in management failure.

Shame his wife and teenage son were attending the show.
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pianoplayeruk (September 5, 2008 at 12:37 am)
well that's what happens when you try to show off.
big plane, slow recovery times and MUCH too low.
jjmrk2 (September 4, 2008 at 7:47 pm)
Everyone who allowed this pilot to continue to "HOTDOG"ing while flying should have been FIRED!! (Entire chain of command). He is flying a bomber! DUH! His stunts finally caught up with him.What a waste!
derekwerek (September 4, 2008 at 11:59 am)
They should fly the planes to match its capability, unfortunately there is always someone who thinks its capable of more, big planes are not meant for that kind of thing, unless it's to avoid nuclear blast at high altitude, the poor pilots, it's a pity he couldn't live to learn from it, but we can, the beauty of planes isn't always in what they can do, a simple fly by can be just as rewarding, and brilliant fun.
jon11565 (September 4, 2008 at 4:20 am)
One of these men had a wife and 2 children watching him die now stop callin him cocky and stupid u ignorant dumbasses and look at the link to wikapidea in the sidebar which explains wat happened
barflewk (September 5, 2008 at 3:52 am)
The pilot was cocky and stupid, had a history of doing stuff like this which bordered on mental illness. Read the accident report. It's a shame his wife and kids were watching, but it doesn't change the fact that he was an asshole.
hksp (September 3, 2008 at 10:18 pm)
that is not a stunt plane
megabigjetfreak (September 3, 2008 at 6:51 pm)
no offence but it was VERY stupid to even consider doing an Airshow in such a GIGANTIC plane, at least it happend during warmup, heven forbid it was at the live show...
Bonk84 (September 5, 2008 at 8:33 am)
People love hearing the roar of an engine, and seeing actual military planes fly. Flying a B52 at an airshow isn't bad, it's only bad when people do stupid things in it, but that can be said about every aircraft.