S3 Viking History

BuNo: 159734
Location: USS Stennis
Date: Sat 16-Mar-1996
Cause: Undetermined
Findings: Crashed into water after night cat launch. USS Stennis near Puerto Rico. No ejection attempt was observed. Crew of 2, both killed.
(From GramPaw Pettibone November/December 1998 Naval Aviation NewsMagazine: Viking Vertigo?: An S-3B Viking with a pilot and COTAC on board launched from the #2 catapult at night. Aircraft commenced a climb but than began to descend. The tower called, 'Keep the climb in, keep the climb in, keep the climb in,' but there was no response from the aircraft. The aircraft continued downward after 11 seconds of flight crashed into the sea, approximately 1,700 feet in front and slightly to the starboard side of the carrier's bow. There were no signs of an ejection attempt. The bridge watch team had limited time to maneuver and stop the ship from colliding with the partially submerged wreckage. The lack of an airborne call and no response to tower transmission indicated the crew may have been on the wrong radio frequency, or was unable to receive or transmit on the selected frequency.)
(Grampaw Pettibone: the guess is that the pilot may have applied improper flight control inputs during climbout due to some kind of physiological problem. The mishap report used fancy terms: somatigravic or oculogravic illusions. Spatial disorientation is another phrase that might apply. Could be the COTAC was distracted and unable to alert the pilot that they were going the wrong way. Whatever the cause was, it happened at a point in the launch sequence when there is precious little time and maneuvering room to get out of trouble.)
Possible Cause? to Dual generator failure caused aircraft lose electrical/lights, couldn't see inside aircraft and lost situational awareness?
Pilot Error
Command never sent copies to JAG
Naval Safety Center (Redacted copy of the report)

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