Once, for 5 hours, the B-52H Stratofortress flew but it had no tail!

A Boeing B-52H Stratofortress performed an eight-hour flight load check in January 1964 to assess the effects of low-altitude buffeting turbulence. The bomber reached higher altitudes until the turbulence became too intense and that’s when disaster struck. The B-52H and its crew survived despite being in near-fatal conditions with its tail missing.

The episode demonstrated the design of the bomber and the skill of the soldiers on board, although it contained all the details of the tragic accident.

A routine test flight

The crew of the B-52H Stratofortress began their test flight, which included ten-minute runs at 500 feet at 280, 350, and 400 knots, after the aircraft took off from Wichita, Kansas, toward the Rocky Mountains. The flight was successful in its initial segment. But significant turbulence was observed on the tail of the B-52H as it passed over Wagon Mountain, New Mexico.

It was decided to abandon the low altitude test and the aircraft climbed to 14,000 feet. The test continued as the mountain range rose. The B-52H was located near Aguilar, Colorado, about 1,000 feet above and to the right of the Rockies. As it increased its speed to 350 knots, severe turbulence was felt once again, but this time it passed quickly – just nine seconds.

The confusion caused the nose of the B-52H to pitch up, causing the bomber to drift to the left. Then it turned quickly to the right. Unbeknownst to the crew, this caused the vertical stabilizer to be almost completely severed. At first, they were ready to leave the plane, but then they realized that they still had some power.

Boeing B-52H Stratofortress flying without a tail

Using airbrakes to slow the bomber and shifting fuel forward to create a forward center of gravity, the B-52H Stratofortress was brought under questionable control. The crew then requested assistance. Shortly after arriving in the North American F-100, test pilot Dale Felix reported the incident to the crew after assessing the damage.

B-52H pilot Charles “Chuck” Fisher was quoted as saying, “We’re down to 220 knots, we’re stable, and I’m going to handle it very carefully.” Felix then told him, “That’s a smart concept. You’ve lost half your vertical wing and all your rudder.” The team found it almost unbelievable. Fisher said, “Don’t I even have 50 percent?” After what must seem like an eternity. Felix replied, “No, you don’t have 50 percent.”

With about 83-85% of the vertical stabilizer torn off, the B-52H was flying virtually without a tail.

The rear landing gear was shortened to help stabilize the bomber. The team then headed back to Wichita. They tested speeds between 200 and 220 knots and found 210 to be optimal for their conditions, so they continued to fly at 12,000 feet.

Bad weather in Wichita may make it safer to divert to Blytheville Air Force Base in Arkansas. The forward landing gear went down first, then the wingtip gear on approach. The B-52H then descended at 160 knots to 10,000 feet. At this slow speed the crew successfully completed the landing.

Aftermath of the incident

Large and weighing more than 2,000 pounds, the vertical stabilizer of the B-52H Stratofortress is a striking feature. The bomber could fly for five hours without a tail. The event demonstrated the dangers of severe turbulence, but it also demonstrated the aircraft’s resilience and the ability and training of its crew, who did an outstanding job.

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After being introduced to the US Air Force in 1955, the B-52 saw action in several conflicts before remaining in service. It is now scheduled to operate until 2050, at which point it will have been in the sky for a century.

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