B-52 Bomber Crash Fairchild Air Force Base
The B-52 Crash at Fairchild Air Force Base occurred on 24 June 1994, killing all four crew members in the B-52 Stratofortress, named Czar 52, during an airshow practice flight. In the crash, Bud Holland, who was the command pilot based at Fairchild Air Force Base, flew the aircraft beyond its operational limits and lost control. The object flying off, near aircraft tail, is the hatch cover due to the co-pilot's attempt to eject from the aircraft. He was unable to eject before the aircraft hit the ground. The accident investigation concluded that the chain of events leading to the crash was primarily attributable to Holland's personality and behavior. Today, the crash is used in the Air Force as a case study in teaching air crew resource management. The crash is often used by the US armed forces during aviation safety training as an example of the importance of compliance with safety regulations and correcting the behavior of anyone who violates safety procedures.
