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Contact Info
Home Town Corsicana
Date of Passing Jun 18, 1972
Location of Interment Oakwood Cemetary - Corsicana, Texas
Narrative:
On June 18, 1972, F-111A s/n 67-0082 crashed shortly after takeoff, in Choctawtchee Bay, Florida, three miles from Eglin AFB. A fuel fire caused by an open fuel cap on the top of the fuselage was believed to be the cause of the crash. The fuel ran back along the fuselage and was ignited by the afterburners. The fire caused loss of control.
The ejection occurred at 5,484 feet above water. The Ejection system did not work because, somehow, the deployment chute was still in shrink wrapped and placed in the chute bay, not hooked up. The capsule came off but never slowed down and the module impacted the water. Both crew members, Col. Keith Brown and Lt Col James Black, sustained fatal injuries.
F-111A s/n 67-0082 had accumulated 237 flights and 609.4 flight hours.
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