Detailed history and photos of helicopter Sikorsky CH-53D Sea Stallion Serial 65-203 Register 156956 used by US Marine Corps USMC Track service timeline and current status.
This was a flight of two CH-53D that left MCAS (H) New River North Carolina. The flight was headed for the Chicago area. I was a member of the rescue/recovery team. Of the eight Marines onboard, 4 died at the scene and four were rescued and treated at a local hospital. The accident was blamed on pilot error. They were flying in VFR conditions when weather required IFR. Greg Gardner
Controlled flight into terrain. Lead crashed into steep terrain first, wingman had just enough time to nose up and pancake instead of head on into mountain.
Five Marines were killed. There was one fatality on the second aircraft the Crew Chief was killed by the Fire Bottle above the Crew Chief's seat. I guarded his aircraft until we were relieved, he was my room mate.
1969-08-29
USMC d/d 29Aug69
12Mar75 HMH-461, MCAS New River
w/o 11mar77 mid-air collision with CH-53D 157167 near Tryon, NC. no survivors
