F-84F, #51-1690, crashed 1 Feb 1956, 25
miles SW of Phoenix
History Of Flight: Capt. Fred Roll
was the number two man for a scheduled cruise control mission, based out
of Luke AFB. The flight had a normal start, take off and climb to
altitude. During the first part of the flight, the MA (mechanical
advantage) light flickered on and off a number of times, but with no
noticable effect on the controls. After two hours of flight, the
flight leader decided to do a stall as he had not done one in this type of
aircraft. Captain Roll elected to do one at the same time and moved
out about 3,000ft at the same altitude. Captain Roll pulled the nose
of the aircraft up approx. 30 degrees above the horizon, dropped speed
brakes, and applied full flaps at 215 knots. As airspeed decreased,
the aircraft fell off to the left to approximately a vertical nose down
position. The aircraft entered into a flat spin to the left and all
efforts to make a recovery were futile. At 12,000 ft., the pilot
ejected successfully and the aircraft nosed into a mountain ravine and
exploded.
 |
 |
| Looking down on the impact area from
the top of the ravine. |
The Wright J-65 turbojet looking out
over the valley. |
 |
 |
| The wing, tail section and rear
fuselage. |
A close up of the fuselage
and the faded star and
bars. |
 |
 |
| Taking a break on the bottom side
of one of the wings. |
A
close up of the wheel tucked in its
compartment. |
