Are the P3 Orion Planes at Moffett Field Again
According to eyewitnesses, the P-3 pulled upwardly sharply in the moment earlier the collision, perchance in an evasive action. Galileo struck the upper aft fuselage of the P-3 and the two aircraft crashed entangled on the l2th tee of the Sunnyvale Municipal Golf Course. A large burn immediately engulfed the two wrecked aircraft. Although there were people playing golf game nearby, miraculously no one on the ground was hurt.
The crash scene apace became cluttered. The ii aircraft crashed merely 200 yards from the Bayshore State highway, and drivers left their cars to scale the fence and rush to the burning wreckage. Golfers, and people from nearby part buildings who had seen the crash besides swarmed effectually the site. The large number of onlookers fabricated access difficult for the crews responding from NAS Moffett Field, California and Sunnyvale. At the time of the crash a grouping of firemen were watching a demonstration of a jaws of life rescue device at the Mount View preparation centre. When they saw the crash they loaded the rescue equipment and went to the scene.
All of the sixteen men who were killed died in the crash or in the fire that followed it. The one survivor was Lilliputian Officer Tertiary Course Bruce Northward. Mallibert, who was an observer on the P-three. One of the golfers at the crash scene found Mallibert seriously injured and lying unconscious exterior of the wreckage, and mistakenly idea that he was dead. He covered Malliberts body with a parachute, only shortly later that a fireman checked Mallibert and discovered that he was still live. Mallibert was lucky to take survived the crash, only he would escape decease a second time minutes later. While the parachute covered him a fire truck drove over him, unaware that he was underneath. Miraculously, the trucks wheels missed Mallibert on both sides. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he remained in critical condition for many days.
This crash renewed calls for the Navy to leave NAS Moffett Field, California, and several local members of Congress chosen for a halt to flight from Moffett in the days following the crash. While at that place had been a large number of crashes around the air station when it was a home to fighters and set on aircraft in the 1950s, the condom record of the P-3 operations was excellent. This collision was the first and just crash of a P-3 near the airfield betwixt the early on 1960s and 1994 when the Navy decommissioned NAS Moffett Field, California.
With the loss of Galileo, NASA lost a unique research nugget in addition to losing several of the scientists who had helped to develop the flying laboratory and its experiments. Many of the programs that were to apply Galileo were either delayed for years or were cancelled completely post-obit the crash.
This blow evidently occurred because of a simple mistake in air traffic control procedures. Neither of the aircraft suffered mechanical problems, the weather was excellent, and the crew aboard each aircraft was well trained and experienced. Sixteen men and 2 valuable shipping were lost, but hopefully hereafter accidents were averted past an increased sensation of the factors that caused this tragedy.
According to eyewitnesses, the P-iii pulled upward sharply in the moment before the collision, perhaps in an evasive activeness. Galileo struck the upper aft fuselage of the P-3 and the two aircraft crashed entangled on the l2th tee of the Sunnyvale Municipal Golf Course. A large fire immediately engulfed the two wrecked shipping. Although there were people playing golf nearby, miraculously no one on the basis was hurt.
The crash scene speedily became cluttered. The 2, aircraft crashed just 200 yards from the Bayshore Pike, and drivers left their cars to scale the debate and blitz to the burning wreckage. Golfers, and people from nearby part buildings who had seen the crash as well swarmed around the site. The big number of onlookers made access difficult for the burn down crews responding from NAS Moffett Field, California and Sunnyvale. At the fourth dimension of the crash a group of firemen were watching a demonstration of a jaws of life rescue device at the Mountain View burn down grooming center. When they saw the crash they loaded the rescue equipment and went to the scene.
"...On that twenty-four hours, April 12, 1973, (Encounter: In Memorial for (VP-47) lost friends Apr 12, 1973) I was working at ZETA Labs in Mountain View, near a mile from the approach end of the NAS Moffett Field, California runways. I felt the building milk shake and and so a rumble. I ran outside and saw the black smoke just backside some houses. I ran downward the Bay Shore Frontage Road to the Sunnyvale Golf Course and to the called-for shipping. At first I could not understand what the situation was, the smoke was and then thick that I could not see the P-3-Five under the Convair 990. I saw some golfers trying to break in the cockpit windows of the 990 simply the glass was too thick. Their clubs simply bounced off the glass. I could run across the pilots hanging from their seat belts but they were not moving. The golfers and I were very upset that they could non break in. I did non have anything that I could use for a club then I looked around but the rut was getting very bad. The firemen then arrived and took over and cut into the shipping with a saw. As I walked back to work - to the Frontage Road - I saw some golfers playing tho as if nothing had happened! What die hards. Nobody has mentioned it but I call up that the NAS Moffett Field crash coiffure drove their trucks right through the boundary fences of NAS Moffett Field - across both northward and southward bound lanes of US 101 and the median barrier betwixt them and through all the fences to get to the crash site. They weren't fooling around! I remember that the local infirmary had been prepared for receiving many crash victims simply merely 1 was brought in to the ER room! I returned to the crash site about ii weeks later, the golf course had been restored and then that I could not tell what had happened a few days earlier. God bless all of the crewman that were killed and the lone survivor of that tragedy. Information technology will be 44 years since this has happened just I can retrieve it as if it had happened yesterday..." Contributed by KELLOGG, ATS2 Harold hgkellogg@outlook.com [26FEB2017] "...I was able to get in touch with Larry Taylor and produced the following VID..." Contributed by Ryan Nothhaft ryan.nothhaft@gmail.com [17DEC2016]
"...I just re-read the account of the VP-47 P-iii midair with the NASA Convair (Encounter: VP-47 - In Memorial for lost friends April 12, 1973) and something jumped out at me. The account mentioned that the NASA pilot didn't question the change to runway 32L. In his defence (non that it's acceptable), our common practice was to let NASA 711 to land on 32L whenever we could because, after landing, it was a quick turnoff at the intersection well-nigh the NASA ramp and a straight shot to the ramp. Just what keeps sticking in my heed is a memory that one of the pilots simply asked "Are nosotros cleared to state?", without using a phone call sign, and the controller, bold information technology was the P-three on final for the left side and said (again without using a phone call sign) "Cleared to state 32 left." Was it the NASA airplane pilot that asked that? I judge we'll never know, but that'southward the way I remember it. Since this incident continues to haunt me, I've searched for a transcript of the incident, simply can't notice information technology. I only pray that the aviation community in full general, and the ATC community in particular, learned a hard lesson from this tragedy..." Contributed by ACCS Paul Klawitter paul@jklawitter.com [16DEC2014]
"...I was working in the control tower that terrible day a VP-47 P-3 collided with a NASA Convair 990 (Come across: In Memorial for (VP-47) lost friends April 12, 1973). I yet accept some rough times when the incident flashes back in my memory because I e'er second gauge myself about "if I could've only recognized what was happening", but I had a trainee working ground control and that was my focus that busy day. I read the post by LT Mischkot about relaying a bulletin to the controller involved that there were no hard feelings. The controller working that day was AC1 Ray Sprinkle and I'thousand sure that if he had received that message, information technology would've meant a lot to him. I knew Ray pretty well. Worked with hime every day. He did go through a menstruation of re-training only was never able to re-authorize. I don't know if it was a lack of confidence in himself or a lack of trust from other controllers who had to sign on with him and give their OK that he was ready for requalification. He ended up changing his rate to one of the figurer-related jobs and went abroad. After I retired in 1992, I saw in the Navy Times that Ray had passed abroad sometime in 1994. God bless him. So, on this Thanksgiving Day, 2014, I am thankful for my blessings, and my heart goes out to all of the families and friends of those who were lost that day. I wonder how the lone survivor is making out. God bless him, as well..." Contributed by ACCS Paul Klawitter, Retired paul@jklawitter.com [28NOV2014]
Dad! "...My father, Bill Russey, was lost April 12, 1973 (SEE: In Memorial for (VP-47) lost friends April 12, 1973). I never got to encounter him. I was born a few months too late. I have oft wondered what he was similar as a person and who I'd be if he had lived. I take two sons now, my oldest named Billy also. I wish I knew more of who he was, to tell them stories. But nosotros have pictures and I'thousand sure he sees us from where he is. I am sorry for eveyone's loss and appreciate the sacrifices our military machine makes for our freedoms. Cheers Dad, I hope to see you finally someday. God Bless..." Contributed by William Russey lrussey74@hotmail.com [03FEB2013]
"...I witnessed this crash (SEE: In Memorial for (VP-47) lost friends April 12, 1973) from the highway that went through the golf game course. I was picking up some golf game balls striking side by side to the highway when I saw the Convair alter run ways from 36 r to 36 L at about three miles from the golf course. As a private airplane pilot I "got" the significance of what I was seeing and got into my automobile and drove quickly west bound so I would non be under the flying path of these converging aircraft. I watched the Convair essentially land on the vertical tail of the P-three, pushing it downward thus causing the nose to bespeak well-nigh direct upwardly. The P-3 did a loop and crashed nose first on the golf class. The Convair'due south pilot gave his bird full ability but his nose was too high and his aircraft appeared to slowly flew backwards, tail first back onto the golf grade. While the Convair appeared to have little outward harm besides a collaped landing gear, the port wing tip was on fire and the fire moved quickly to the body of the shipping. A few very dauntless golfers attemped to suspension the front window of the aircraft only the drinking glass was to thick. The golfers were forced to get away from the shipping due to the of the burn. An interesting footnote: The Convair made an earlier landing at NAS Moffett Field, California while I was putting and I remember looking up at the co airplane pilot who was looking at me getting ready to putt and he extended his hands in acknowledgement of my short putt and smiled at me and visa versa. Little did either of u.s. know at the fourth dimension that within three hours he would meet his maker. Then tragic and so unnecessary. You could see 80 miles this sunny day. One would recall that between all of the coiffure members and the controller that someone would have noticed the conflicting runway assignment..." Contributed by bobcarter43@yahoo.com [25AUG2010]
"...I served with VP-47 from 1971 to 1974 at NAS Moffett Field, California. We were on deployment at the time the accident (SEE: In Memorial for VP-47 lost friends April 12, 1973) happened. I was at NAS Adak, Alaska when we got the word that RD5 had crashed with another aircraft. At first we were told that at that place were no survivors. I was happy to hear subsequently that Bruce Mallibert had survived. I had the pleasure of knowing and flying with Bruce on several occasions during our deployments and when the squadron was home at NAS Moffett Field, California. I remember him as a adept athelete because we played squad basketball and flag football together. We lost office of our family unit that day on April 12, 1973. I will always remember that day and the coiffure that was lost...VEGA, RM3 David J. bigdvegad@yahoo.com..." [15APR2010]
"...My begetter was often on the Galileo (SEE: In Memorial for (VP-47) lost friends Apr 12, 1973) that mentioned along with the P-3 at NAS Moffett Field, California. I've been on the plane myself. All mean solar day long I answered the telephone Dad's alive. Hi. Once again and again and over again. I remember his saying in that location was one Scientist/Engineer whose experiment was not quite right so he stayed on the ground to work on information technology. Even today, nearly 37 years later, I can recollect what the golf grade looked similar with wreckage on it. Margie margie402@yahoo.com..." [31MAR2009]
"...My brother, Neb (Wm Frank) Russey, was the Atomic number 26 on the P-3 that crashed on April 12, 1973 (SEE: VP-47 - In Memorial for lost friends April 12, 1973). While I was in California for the Memorial, I went to the hospital to visit the Mallibert family and have oftened wondered about Bruce, who was the solitary survivor ot the horrific crash. My father, a WW 2 vet. was the braviest and well-nigh impressive Dad when he said that he felt privileged that God gave him Bill for 31 years. I have oftened wondered of the condition and wherabouts of Bruce Mallibert. May God Bless all sailors who accept given their lives and so we could be a gratuitous nation. Nancy Russey Mock mastersgo@pobox.com..." [02MAR2009]
"...I was 7 at the time of the VP-47 - In Memorial for lost friends April 12, 1973 at NAS Moffett Field, California. I remember seeing the smoke from my backyard in Mountain View. My neighbour Mr. Cross was a NASA scientist killed on that flight and I think all of the cars showing upwardly around 4PM to comfort his wife Eleanor. My mother and Eleanor Cross were closs friends. My best friend'southward father was on the golf form at the time and saw the whole thing. Strange that something should hit so shut at such a immature age, and I did some growing up that day. God Anoint the victims, the families, and their friends even to this solar day. They will non be forgotten. Scott Evan Nelson snelson17@comcast.net..." [16OCT2008]
"...Information technology has been 35 years since VP-47'southward Mishap (VP-47 - In Memorial for lost friends Apr 12, 1973). I still call up what a peachy agglomeration of guys were on RD5. I flew with LT Schwarting and coiffure around the Mariannas out of NAS Agana, Guam. That flight was a actually groovy experience I will never forget. Martin Grupp mgnewlookauto@sbcglobal.net..." [13APR2008]
"...It was my concluding day in the navy. I was in VP-nine, AE2. I had just come up dorsum early from the deployment to NAS Iwakuni, Japan to stop my enlistment. I walked out of the credit union and the planes crashed into the golf class across the freeway (See: In Memorial for lost friends April 12, 1973). I could come across a golfer with his golf guild striking the thick windows of the P-3 until the heat forced him back. I remember that he could see someone inside trying to exit and in the extreme panic and disorientation not pulling the handle on the overhead escape hatch in the cockpit. I have never forgotten this tragic event...Dan DUKES dansoffice@comcast.net..." [28FEB2008]
"...Steve (LT Stephen A. Schwarting) was my roommate and friend during Plebe Summer at the Naval University. I have just returned from our 40th reunion and found this when I did a search for Steve. During our memorial service this morning, our chaplain and classmate encouraged us to speak our our classmates' names during a normally silent prayer of remembrance. I said Steve's name and I heard his proper name from many other classmates in the group. Be bodacious that Steve has not been forgotten. He was a groovy guy and we miss him sorely...Peter Smullen pete_smullen@hotmail.com..." [22OCT2007]
"...I was a Corspman on duty the day Trivial Officer Tertiary Class Bruce Northward. Mallibert (VP-47 Observer) arrived at the United states of america Naval infirmary, in Oakland (Run across: In Memorial for lost friends Apr 12, 1973). His burns and injuries were and then severe, we had no doubt he would only survive a day at the almost, if that long. I was the Sr. Corpsman on the ward he ended upwardly at, and I've never seen any patient with and so many things disrepair upward or burnt. He was missing ane inch of his spine....yes, his spine. The top of his skull had been removed to prevent brain swelling problems and his exposed encephalon was covered with a saline gauze. Both legs had multiple fractures and were in traction. He had 3rd degree burns over xx% of his trunk. Both artillery were burnt and cleaved, back and cervix cleaved, some internal injuries, and in a coma for more than than a month. The initial prognosis for Bruce was non good. "Hour by hour" for the first few days. I would escort his family and fiance to his room each calendar week and got to know them pretty well. They came up from Sunnyvale. (We honestly thought he would never recover and would dice while in the coma). Then came the day I was told he was coming out of his blackout, goin in and out of consciousness. His family was in the room. This is a little eerie, but I went into his room and began talking to his family, and Bruce had his eyes airtight and appeared to exist sleeping. Out of no where, the first thing he said was "Larry is that yous?" I'll never forget that or forget Bruce. A few years after, when I was in the reserves, I heard he was transferred to a VA hospital in So. Ca. and was actually re-learning how to walk. I couldn't believe information technology, peculiarly with his spinal injury. God Anoint the men who lost their lives. Bruce, if y'all e'er read this, please contact me...Larry Taylor..." [03SEP2006]
UPDATE: Bruce and I connected back in 2006 - thank y'all anybody for your help. Larry Taylor..." [18FEB2016]
"...My Father, Jim Remington, was ane of the crew members on board the NASA Convair 990 (SEE: Memorial for lost friends Apr 12, 1973) who died that day. I've spent quite a bit of fourth dimension over the past few years on the net trying to gather information and just try to brand sense of what happened, I was near 2 and a one-half when it happened. I was very pleased to find this tribute to all of the men who lost their lives in that accident, and I wanted to say thank you lot...Jay Remington gordocoop@comcast.net..." [09APR2006]
"...I read nigh the incident that happened on the P-3C aircraft as I was in NAS Agana, Guam with Ken Holmes and crew four. As soon as nosotros received the notice we flew dorsum to NAS Moffett Field, California with CDR Rex Featherston to exist with the people. I was in the funeral with other members of the squadron. If my recollection is correct there were ii Iron's on that terrible flight. Ane was Chief McDowell and the other was a friend of Mine named Bill Russey, an AE1. This was a sad day for all of the P-three community..." Contributed by PERRY, AE2 Don donfperry@valornet.com [13MAY2004]
"...I was a member of VP-47 from 1971 to 1974 and I actually flew back to NAS Moffett Field, California from NAS Adak, Alaska the night before that crash on 12 April 1973 (SEE: In Memorial for lost friends April 12, 1973) on the aforementioned airplane that crashed. When we landed on the tarmack we were greated by a great guy named Bruce Mallibert. Bruce was actually standing watch at the time. At the time, our squadron was split between NAS Moffett Field, California, NAS Adak, Alaska, and NAS Agana, Guam. My friend Mike Gleaves and I were pretty excited when we were told nosotros could come habitation for a couple of weeks from NAS Adak, Alaska, as anyone would be, and I remember when nosotros were landing that night the pilot played John Denver's "Country Road" song over the aircraft'south speaker arrangement. As nosotros nigh the 33rd aniversary of this tragedy I will keep in my thoughts and prayers the families of those who died in this crash as well as you too Bruce. You lot were e'er an inspriation of strength post-obit that crash and to hear that shortly later on y'all were giving of yourself to speak in schools further serves to demonstrate that force. I will never forget you all. God Bless...CLARK, Larry frog020899@yahoo.com..." [06APR2006]
"...I served with VP-47 from Apr 1971 to January 1975. The merely survivor of the NASA crash, Bruce Mallibert, was a personal friend (Run across: In Memorial for lost friends Apr 12, 1973). I knew and flew with all aboard. I was on sentinel at our NAS Agana, Guam detachment and on the phone with the D.O. at NAS Moffett Field, California when the crash occured. A sorry twenty-four hours...HOLMES, Ken kholmes@direcway.com [04DEC2003]
"...I am the high schoolhouse golfer mentioned in Lee Boyd'southward eyewitness account of the P-3 and Convair 990 crash over Sunnyvale Muni Golf Form in 1973 (SEE: In Memorial for lost friends April 12, 1973). I stumbled upon the article accidently during a Google search of my name, as I am a retired professional racing driver. If there are readers interested in asking questions of my recollections, I would be glad to answer...Ray Kong rkr96@aol.com [20NOV2003]
"...My father, LT Stephen A. Schwarting, was one of the VP-47 servicemen killed on April 12, 1973. I came across your memorial page this afternoon, and think it is a wonderful tribute. I happened to observe it considering I had been watching a P-iii Orion perform a series of touch-and-goes at our local aerodrome. Thanks...Thomas Schwarting axledr@yahoo.com [17APR2003]
"...My name is Lee Boyd and I was an Aerial Photographer at NAS Moffett Field, California from 1951-54. After I got out of the Navy in 1954, I got my degree and I went into pedagogy.
I was on the Sunnyvale Municipal Golf Course with my golf game team on Apr 12, 1973 and I witnessed the crash. I was walking down the 2d fairway with the other golf coach and I saw The P-iii and NASA jet in a stepped-upward echelon over the runway. I said to my cocky what are those 2 planes doing in that position.
The P-3 was on summit and the NASA jet was on the lesser and they started to hitting each other. The P-3 started to pull up and the NASA jet did as well. I assume that they both realized that they were coming in on the rails. Every bit the P-3 was trying to abort the NASA jet came up and punched a huge pigsty in the fuselage. I'll never forget the gapping hole the jet fabricated in the top of the P-iii'southward fuselage. They both fell to the footing at the twelfth tee of the golf course. Our concluding foursome of educatee golfers were over on # 3 and nosotros were concerned for their prophylactic. The other coach and I ran downwardly the #2 fairway and ran under the tunnel to #3 fairway to check on the players. Both planes caught on fire at impact and other golfers were trying to break the front end window of the planes to requite help. Ray Kong, a golfer from the Sunnyvale Loftier Schoolhouse golf game squad, threw a parachute over the loan survivor.
The Crash trucks had a very difficult time getting on the course because the course was fenced and the Crash Crew had did not have quick access to the gates. I saw the one Crash truck drive over the parachute with the loan survivor underneath the white chute and I said to myself and other people that "I gauge the driver didn't know that Bruce was under the chute." I tried to get the golf teams to safety and I saw the ambulance load Bruce on a stretcher. He appeared to be a pretty big guy. I believe that Bruce was kicked out of the tail section of the P-3 Orion and landed between the #three rd#12 fairways. The other golf motorbus and I got the players off the grade and safely home.
Bruce Mallibert, the loan survivor, came to Sunnyvale High School in 1978 were I taught and talked to students well-nigh being on drugs and I told him that I witnessed his accident.
If you have whatsoever questions, please contact me..." Contributed by Lee Boyd Boydfour@aol.com [30NOV2002]
"...Could you please alter the date for VP-47 P-3 crash with Convair 990. It should be 12APR73 not 15MAR73..." Contributed by James Wilcox jfwilcox@pacbell.net [18APR2000]
"...My very last flight as PP2P at NAS Moffett Field, California occurred Th, April 12, 1973 while we were in the "touch and go" pattern on 36 left. I gently brought the aircraft to a landing and and so made the required runway plough off.
All of the sudden my left seater cried out several obscenities. Not thinking that was such a bad landing, I glanced to my right only to see a horrendous cherry-orange fireball and thick black smoke billowing from the approach cease of the dual runways.
Almost instantly tower called out "CRASH CRASH CRASH-All aircraft on the deck at Moffett articulate the runways and position and hold! All aircraft in the Moffett pattern depart to a belongings position or divert to alternating airfields!".
A NASA 990 Convair had inadvertently been directed to land "36 left for visual" when in fact the controller meant to say "36 right for visual". NASA 990 rogered and so promptly landed on top of a VP-477 P-iii-C on concluding for 36 left at virtually 400 feet AGL. Both shipping wrapped themselves upwards and plummeted to the Sunnyvale golf game course.
At that place were five Navy fatalities and 11 fatalities aboard the NASA aircraft.
Merely 1 survivor. I had the distinct honor of coming together this gent while I was the OOD several months afterwards.
He wanted to let the controller (who had been retrained afterwards a long hospital and psychiological stay) that there were no hard feelings. I told the gent that I would allow the controllor know but it would be in the best interests of all concerned if he be left alone for now...." Contributed by Philip Mischkot, LT (USNR-RS) pjm3@texoma.net [07AUG99]
"VP-47 Mishap Summary Folio"
"NASA Mishap Summary Page"
mitchelldenjudd42.blogspot.com
Source: https://www.vpnavy.com/vp47mem_20nov2000.html
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