A-4C Skyhawk Crash Site

December 14th 2015





Summery :

The Douglas A-4C is night/adverse weather capable version of A-4 Skyhawk lightweight attack aircraft for US Navy and Marine Co.
This US Navy A-4C (#148570) was belonged to VA-56 and stationed Lemoore Naval Air base. In 1965, one of their A-4E with one-megaton B43 nuclear bomb fell into ocean from the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga about 80 miles off coast of Japan.
On August 18th 1966, this Skyhawk piloted by LCDR Arthur K. Tyszkiewicz was on a scheduled two plane combination navigation and bombing/strafing flight. While on his second strafing run, he noticed the utility hydraulic system warning light flickering. As he aborted the run he noticed the fire warning light and flight control hydraulic warning light had also had come on. He reduced the power control level to idle, but the hydraulic system warning and fire warning lights remained on. He then secured the engine and successfully ejected at approximately 2500 AGL at 190 knots. The aircraft impacted at 30 degrees nose down angle and was completely destroyed.
Sadly less than six months after surviving this accident, at the age of 33, he was killed in action on January 14, 1967. He was flying on A-4C and collided with another A-4C in the mid-air at night over Laos. Both pilot successfully parachuted into the jungle, but while attempting the helicopter rescue, his cable became entangled and he was dropped to his death. He was buried at sea in a ceremony on the USS Enterprise.



    
Description



Manufacturer:
McDonnell Douglas
Base model:
A-4
Version:
C
Nickname:
Skyhawk
Designation System:
U.S. Navy
Designation Period:
1956-2003 (U.S.Navy)
Basic role:
Lightweight Attack
Serial Number:
148570
Crash Date:
1966/8/18
Cause of Crash:
Mechanical failure
Fatalities:
0




Specifications



Length:
41'3"" 12.6 m
Height:
15'" 4.6 m
Wingspan:
27'6"" 8.4 m
Wingarea:
259.0 sq ft 24.2 sq m
Empty Weight:
10,450 lb 4,750 kg
Gross Weight:
18,300 lb 8,318





Propulsion



No. of Engines:
1
Powerplant:
Pratt & Whitney J52-P408 turbojet
Thrust:
11,200 lb





Performance



Max Speed:
645 mph 1,038 km/h 560 kt
Ceiling:
38,698 ft 11,795 m


    
Other A-4 Link :
 Wikipedia Link : McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk


    



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