Old news: Navy transport crash off NAS Jax in the 1970s?

[DB264]

I'm new to the site, hope someone can help with this:
I think there was a Navy transport plane that crashed when it was trying to land at NAS, sometime in the 1970s. It went into the River. I remember something like a photo of it on the front page of the Paper - probably the Jax Journal.
But I can't find anything about it on the Internet. Does anyone have any details?
I would like to add it to a list of military plane crashes on Wikipedia.

[RMHoward]

Quote from NAS Jax 60th Anniversary Illustrated History by Ronald Williamson:
"As Cecil Field was gearing up for the arrival of the first F/A-18 Hornet in April 1983, NAS Jacksonville was the scene of the second worst airplane crash in the stations's history.  Of the 14 personnel on board their home bound C-131 flight to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, only one survived the crash.  The disaster occured shortly after takeoff from NAS Jacksonville around noon on Saturday, April 30. The plane had just crossed the St. Johns River, heading east over San Jose Blvd, when the pilot radioed that his left engine was on fire and he was returning to the base.  One minute later, debris from the ill-fated aircraft struck a car on Old King's Road.  Then as the aircraft was over the St. Johns river about 1/4 mile from the start of the runway and approx. 200 feet up, the left wing seperated from the aircraft.  When the fuselage hit the water, the plane exploded, killing 13 of those on board.  The sole survivor, AT2 Melissa Kelly, suddenly finding herself in the St. Johns River grabbed onto the first floating object she could reach; her own suitcase."      Wow, I wonder where she is now. 

[ronchamblin]

I remember when this happened.  It was a Convair twin engined recip transport, a type which was also used as a civil transport from the fifties into the seventies.  I flew in it several times, both in the military and as a civilian passenger.  It was a comfortable airplane as compared to the much older twin engined DC-3.

At the time of this C-131 crash, my thoughts were ....... I wish the pilot had made the decision to ditch into the river, thereby probably saving most people on the aircraft.  This aircraft had a simple tubular shape, making a ditching somewhat easy with the gear up.  Of course, the pilolt probably was not aware of the high rate of wing deterioration via the fire.  And of course, back then the human species had not yet evolved heroes such as the fellow who saved all passengers in the Hudson ditching.

    In my military flying, we occasionally had fires on our recip engines.  Makes you quite nervous, and all the things that were bothering you somehow seemed not to matter anymore.  Although jet engines do have fires, the frequency is much less than with the recips, the latter using 100 octain aviation fuel, the former using a form of kerosene, which is less likely to ignite as compared to the 100 octain stuff. 

[DB264]

Quote from NAS Jax 60th Anniversary Illustrated History by Ronald Williamson:
"As Cecil Field was gearing up for the arrival of the first F/A-18 Hornet in April 1983, NAS Jacksonville was the scene of the second worst airplane crash in the stations's history.  Of the 14 personnel on board their home bound C-131 flight to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, only one survived the crash. 
...

THANKS!  I was only off by a few years, but those are the details as I remember them, including the sole survivor. I'll post this on Wikipedia in the next day or so.
Yes, I wonder where the survivor is, too.
Also, I wonder if there was a picture in the paper, as I seem to remember.....

[viper01lab]

DB264 > I can confirm the survivor was AT2 Melissa Kelly.

ronchamblin > I also wish the pilot had ditched into the river. The pilot ( Naval Aviator ) CMDR Larry Dean Barnett AKA "Viper" had just received an award for achieving 5,000 hours accident free flight time. This award came just months before this sad and tragic event. He was certified in over 24 different Military aircraft over the length of his career.
  He received the bronze star in Vietnam. He served aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Saratoga. After that he then spent most of his years teaching young recruits as an instructor before his transfer to become X.O. of GITMO. He had one and a half years in with the C-131 and a career of experience under his belt.
  It is common knowledge now that it can take only 60 seconds of fire for critical structural failures on the C-131. With a serious fire on board a c-131,  you DO NOT attempt to "stretch" the flight to an airport even if it is a short distance away. Put the airplane down in the water, or anywhere, under control.  I can attest that if CMDR Barnett knew what we know now about the Convair.  He would of ditched the aircraft with out a thought.
  Less than 5 minutes into the flight the fire erupted. When the pilot ( Barnett) radioed the tower "RTB we have a fire". He flew in low over the St Johns river. In doing so, he gave them all the best chance of survivability if something catastrophic did happen.
  Unfortunately when the left wing snapped almost completely off just under 170 ft from the runway. The fuel tank ignited and exploding seconds after the plane hit the water. I have seen the wreckage from this plane first hand.  The entire left part of the fuselage was gone ! There was a pile of instrumentation with a sign sticking out of it that said Cockpit. It helped me understand why my Father ( CMDR Barnett ). Had a close casket funeral.

[pilatus]

30 years ago my friend and I were in his boat and saw the wing come off right in front of us.  Went to shore and picked up a couple of firemen.  Went out about a hundred yards and they dove into the water and rescued the sole survivor.  As I remember Melissa had a pretty badly broken leg.  I never knew her name until this post. 

[M(B)Kelly]

To anyone who remembers what happened 30 years ago today at NAS JAX, please take some time to remember the 14 souls that were lost and their families.  I was lucky to survive--retired on disablity from the navy FEB 1986, graduated with a BSE (EE) from UF (with Honors!) AUG 1991 and have worked for NARF/NADEP/FRCSE since 1989.

Jacksonville paper today has story about civilian plane crash in 1926--no mention of 14 sailors lost on same day 57 years later. Sad.

Pilatus: If that really was you in the boat, please let me know--that is a blank in the story.

[Fashwo]

I was stationed at Navy Hospital Jacksonville when the crash happened. I treated Melissa in physical therapy at the hospital. I would love to touch base and catch up. I think I remember giving two kittens Nuttley and Montclaire. I remember how you impressed me with your strength and courage. Fred Ashworth

[M(B)Kelly]

Fred!!!! Click on my email icon and send me a message! OMG, I have wondered about you and yours so often! I wish you'd left your email on this site!

[Cath]

My Father, ADCS Collie Porter McCord,  died in the plane crash.   I've kept in touch with Mike Spellissy's (who also died in the crash) wife, Susan Spellissy.  I have an electronic copy of the Newspaper article if anyone wants to see it... I wasn't able to attach them to this post.   Cathy McCord Mallak

[Cath]

Hard to believe that 31 years have passed since the crash... seems like just yesterday Dad (Collie Porter McCord) was leaving the house for yet another  flight out of GITMO.  Melissa, I hope you are doing well!

[sleegaines]

I was there that day....on the runway with my dad who was getting ready to fly the P3 that was stationed at JAX up to DC to pick up the Commandant of the Marine Corps....will never forget seeing that plane come in on fire...there was a picture on the front page of the paper...but I haven't been able to find it.

[tjkelly]

I am new to this website and came across this topic.  I was stationed in Gitmo from 1978-1982.  I was an AT2 and worked on the electronics of the C131 while I was stationed there.  I still had some good friends stationed there when I left and was wondering ir someone could tell me the names of the people who died in this horrific crash.  I sent a letter tot he CO to find out who they were and never received a reply back.  Thank you in advance. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families.  Melissa Kelly, I hope you are doing well!

[LHilyard]

tjkelly, I also worked at NAS Gtmo 1978-1981 (AT1, then ATC, then ATCS while I was there) and think I know you.  I have the newspaper articles from the Florida Times-Union that I scanned from microfilm reels in the library in the early 90's.  The articles show the names of those lost in the crash.  Email me and I will forward the file to you.  You may also be interested in joining a Gtmo FB group

[Ocklawaha]

I recall it was a kid and his buddy from Bolles School across the river that was startled by the low flying aircraft while taking nature photos for a class assignment.  Right place in the right time and he took some of the most incredible shots in the US Naval collection. BTW, NAS JAX has an official 'Base Historian' and archive. They once had their own internal library system with thousands of books in several libraries.