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Blackledge, David Carl, Capt.
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Contact Info
Last Address Cannon AFB, New Mexico Cresskill, New Jersey
On March 20, 1973, while on a night training mission, two F-111Ds assigned to the 27th TFW
collided during a night formation rejoin. The accident occured near Holbrook Arizona. The
aircraft involved were F-111D (s/n 68-0105), crewed by Maj. Richard Brehm and Maj. William
Halloran, and F-111D s/n 68-0158 crewed by Maj. William Gude and Capt. David Blackledge.
In the collision, 68-0105's wingtip hit 68-0158's left side near the cockpit. The force of the
impact caused the capsule of 68-0158 to eject; 68-0105 then ejected. The rocket motor from
one capsule burned the main parachute of the other. Neither capsule landed safely and the
crews of both aircraft were killed.
F-111D (s/n 68-0105) had accumulated 53 flights and 142.7 flight hours at the time of the crash.
Crew:
MAJ Richard L. Brehm
MAJ William T. Halloran
F-111D (s/n 68-0158) had accumulated 24 flights and 68.1 flight hours.
Crew:
MAJ William W. Gude
CAPT David C. Blackledge
Other Comments:
Date: 20-MAR-1973
Time: 21:21 MST
Type: General Dynamics F-111D
Owner/operator: 27th TFW, USAF
Registration: 68-0158 C/n / msn: A6-74
Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 /
Occupants: 2
Other fatalities: 2
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location: 1 mile N of Holbrook, Arizona - United States of America
Phase: En route
Nature: Military
Departure airport: Cannon AFB, NM
Destination airport:
Narrative:
On March 20, 1973, while on a night training mission, two F-111Ds assigned to the 27th TFW collided during a night formation rejoin. The accident occured near Holbrook, Arizona. The aircraft involved were F-111D s/n 68-0105, crewed by Maj. Richard Brehm and Maj. William Halloran, and F-111D s/n 68-0158 crewed by Maj. William Gude and Capt. David Blackledge.
In the collision, 68-0105's wingtip hit 68-0158's left side near the cockpit. The force of the impact caused the capsule of 68-0158 to eject; 68-0105 then ejected. The rocket motor from one capsule burned the main parachute of the other. Neither capsule landed safely and the crews of both aircraft were killed. F-111D s/n 68-0158 had accumulated 24 flights and 68.1 flight hours.
