Is it really 35 years ago today!
The aircraft crashed on the Nellis Ranges, about 20 miles north of Beatty, Nevada, during a Red Flag exercise. A violent manoeuvre causing a catastrophic failure of the starboard outer wing which separated from the airframe, rendering the aircraft uncontrollable. With only nine seconds between the wing failure and impact, Sqn Ldr Ken Tait (pilot) ejected but did not survive because the altitude and attitude of the aircraft was outside the operating parameters of the Buccaneer's Martin Baker Mk. 6 BSB-2 seat. Flt Lt Charles "Rusty" Ruston (WSO) did not eject before the aircraft collided with the ground. Both were members of XV Squadron, based at RAF Laarbruch, in Germany.
Subsequent investigation found that a fatigue crack in the front spar caused the wing to fail, as it was unable to withstand the high loading experienced during the turn. Structural analysis concluded that a force equal to between 5 and 6 G was sufficient to cause a catastrophic failure of the already weakened spar. Additionally, severe but localized turbulence in the vicinity of the aircraft contributed to the high wing loading at the time the front wing spar failed.
As a result of this accident the entire Buccaneer fleet was grounded. A very limited clearance was issued on May 9 to allow the aircraft at Nellis to fly back to their base in Germany. Full envelope clearance was not given until until August 1980, following completion of the necessary inspections and modifications.
RIP Ken and Rusty!
Fly safe you guys on Red Flag right now!
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