B-1B Accidents Summaries

Dec. 12, 2001 - Shortly after take-off on a combat mission over Afghanistan, the aircraft experienced what the crew referred to as "multiple malfunctions" leading to a "total loss of control" of the aircraft. The aircraft went down 60 miles from the British island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, where it was operating from a U.S. air base. All four crew members ejected safely, and were later rescued by a U.S. destroyer.

Feb. 18, 1998 - During a refueling and low-level training mission, a short circuit in the Fire Warning Extinguisher Panel during an attempt to shut down one engine which led to an "uncommanded shutdown" of the three remaining engines. This in turn caused a loss of all hydraulic and electrical power on the aircraft. Without generators or hydraulic pumps, the pilots were unable to restart the engines or control the aircraft. The crew ejected safely. The incident occurred near Marion, Ky. The aircraft was from the 7^th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

Sept. 19, 1997 - During a training mission practicing "low level defensive countermeasures" and simulated bombing, the aircraft, while performing a standard maneuver involving reducing speed and turning sharply, experienced "an excessive sink rate" and crashed in to the ground. The four crew members were killed on impact. The incident occurred near Alzada, Mont. The aircraft was from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.

Nov. 30, 1992 - During a low-altitude, nighttime training flight the aircraft crashed in mountainous terrain. The four crew members were killed on impact. The incident occurred near Van Horn, Tex. in the Sierra Vieja mountains. The aircraft was from the 96^th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

Nov. 18, 1988 - An aircraft crashed while attempting a landing in bad weather at Ellsworth AFB, S.D. The aircraft came in below the glide path indicated on its instruments and struck a utility pole. The pilot was able to pull up the nose of the aircraft after the collision, allowing the crew of four to eject safely.

Nov. 9, 1988 - During a training flight a fuel line broke, spraying fuel in to one of the engines, which then caught fire. The four crew members ejected safely. The pilot ordered three crew members to eject, and then flew the aircraft safely away from a residential area before ejecting himself. The incident occurred near Abilene, Texas. The aircraft was from the 96^th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

Sept. 29, 1987 - During a training flight the aircraft was struck by a large bird which smashed through the plane's skin above an engine, rupturing fuel lines. The fuel ignited, causing an explosion and the aircraft crashed. Three crew members were killed on impact, while three others were able to eject safely. The incident occurred near Van Horn, Texas. in the Sierra Vieja mountains. The aircraft was from the 96^th Bomb Wing, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

Aug. 29, 1984 - During special maneuvers to test the aircraft's performance with only two engines, an aircraft performing an emergency turn stalled and crashed in the Mojave Desert. The three crew members ejected safely, but one was killed when their escape capsule impacted on the ground and the other two were severely injured. The pilot who was killed was a civilian with Rockwell, Int., the aircraft's manufacturer. The other crew members were Air Force personnel. The incident occurred near Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.