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Lockheed YS-3A Viking/Bu.157999
YS-3A one of 8 test aircraft prototypes, twin-engined, carrier-borne, ASW aircraft. Lockheed Palmdale, California,
BuNo.157999 c/n 394A-1008
S‑3A Viking
BuNo: 157999
Date of accident: 3rd August 1973
Homebase: NAVPRO Naval Plant Representative Office ("NAVPRO") Burbank, California factory, where the S-3 was designed and created.
Cause: simulated in‑flight emergency led to loss of aircraft
Killed was Lt. Cmdr. Donald Lee Cunard, injured was Lockheed instructor Charles W. Lamoreaux.
Summary of accident:
On Friday, 3 August 1973, LCDR Donald Lee Cunard, attached to NAVPRO Burbank, was scheduled for a refresher training flight in S-3A BUNO 157999 with Charles W. Lamoreaux, S-3A Instructor pilot for Lockheed-California Company. The flight was scheduled for a 1430 brief, but was delayed due to replacement of the STCU (Speed Brake, Trim Control Unit). Aircraft pre-flight was conducted and briefing was conducted. Take off from Hollywood-Burbank Airport was at 1527 with LCDR Cunard in the pilot seat and Lamoreaux in the co-pilot seat. The first 20 to 25 minutes of the flight were normal. A windmill engine start demonstration was conducted at 15,000'.
A descent was made in the area of Lancaster California, from 12,000 to 6,000 feet, to demonstrate engine rollback protection features. This demonstration is conducted in the PA (powered approach) configuration; therefore the aircraft was to be decelerated to 155 KIAS. At approximately 225 knots, pilot commenced introduction of nose up trim to simulate a runaway trim condition. The Aircraft assumed an extremely nose high attitude accompanied by rapidly decreasing airspeed. At approximately 125 KIAS, pilot initiated the prescribed recovery from nose high unusual attitude, a roll to 90 degree maneuver. As the aircraft rolled to the left to approximately 80 degree angle of bank, the airspeed in the 100 to 105 knot range, pilot added some power. The aircraft continued in a tight left hand descending spiral. The spiral subsequently stopped, but descent continued. The aircraft entered a stall, then pitched approximately 60 degrees to 80 degrees nose down and commenced a right descending turn.
Ejection was in the crew eject mode and occurred at 500 to 800 feet AGL, terrain elevation in the area was 2800'. The aircraft impacted the ground and burned. Both pilots egressed properly with full chute deployment. Lamoreaux landed in a roadside ditch and was aided by a passing motorist. LCDR Cunard descended through the fireball. His chute was destroyed by fire and he fell, to the ground sustaining fatal injuries.
I have a copy of the official accident report. I have visited the crash site
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