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Summery : The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is a long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft that was operated by the USAF. On December 18, 1969, SR-71A (#61-7953) callsign "Dutch 68" piloted by Col. Joe Rogers and Maj. Gary Heidelbaugh was scheduled for a functional check flight from Edwards AFB. The aircraft configuration included, for the first time ever, the Optical Bar Camera (OBC) nose assembly and some modification were also made to SR-71 #953's Electronic Counter-Measures (ECM) systems. After refuelled from KC-135Q tanker near Beatty, NV, Rogers initiated a pre-planned acceleration and climb. A few seconds after lighting the afterburner, Rogers and Heidelbaugh heard a loud bang and high-frequency vibration, accompanied by a loss of power and severe control difficulties. The pilot, suspecting possible engine compressor stalls, pulled back on the throttles until the vibrations ceased and then re-engaged afterburners. The vibrations started again and the airplane's nose began to rise. As the aircraft pitched up, Rogers realized it was uncontrollable. Full forward stick would not prevent #953 from pitching up and when control was lost, Joe said: " Let's go! " , and the both crew ejected and safely parachuted to the ground. SR-71 #953 fell apart in midair and crashed on the ground near Shoshone, California. The Investigation Board found a piece of duct tape rolled up into the shape of a cigarette inside one of the pitot-static lines that go around the newly installed optical bar camera. The Board assumed it was placed there as a makeshift dust plug when the line was fabricated and forgotten. ---------------------------------------------- The crash site is near the town of Shoshone, California and most of the wreck had been already cleaned up. There were many very small size (nail to finger size) fragments among the dirt, but extremly hard to find. I could find about 20 pieces of small metal fragments including couple of hand size from under ground with using metal detector. The largest piece was 1 foot long metal rod (unknown parts) from 6 inches underground. |
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