S3 Viking History

BuNo: 160579
Location: East China Sea
Date: Sat 21-Mar-1987
Cause: Pilot Error
Findings: Crashed at approximately 1535 hours, in the East China Sea, aircraft flying at a low altitude approximately 180-200 KIAS, pilot added full power and pulled aircraft into a climb. At about 2,000 feet the pilot inexplicably entered into what appeared to the survivors to be an aileron roll, the aircraft experienced heavy buffet and positive 'G' forces in a steep dive. Command ejection was initiated at too low of an altitude and resulting in only the two rear seats clearing the aircraft prior to water impact.

Lack of sufficient airspeed caused the aircraft to stall resulting in water impact due to insufficient altitude for recovery.

Cause of mishap was determined to be Pilot Error.

Surviving aircrew (TACCO and SENSO) felt they did not have a full chute, no opening shock and only 2 or 3 seconds after clearing the aircraft before they impacted the water.

Crew of 4 with 2 fatal, and 1 body not recovered and 2 injured.

Source: JAG Investigation Report.

Grampaw Pettibone comments:

There was no sign of mechanical troubles. Some folks who had flown with the pilot admitted, once in awhile, to 'execute unannounced and unbriefed aerobatic maneuvers, some at low altitude'. These witnesses didn't think the incidents were unsafe or involved out-of-control flight, so they didn't report them.

Ole Gramps doesn't have a good answer to prevent same from happening again. It's Flathatting any way you cut it!!!

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