XF-104 37786 at Edwards AFB in January 1954

XF-104, construction number 083-1001, serial number 53-7786, built by Lockheed

XF-104 serial 53-7786 was lost on July 11, 1957 after losing control while flying a chase mission forcing the pilot to eject. 
The pilot was only slightly injured but the aircraft was destroyed in the crash 12 nautical miles south-southwest of Bakersfield, California. The pilot was William "Bill" C. Park, a Lockheed Engineering Test Pilot.
This accident occurred with XF-104 53-7786 acting as a chase plane for F-104A 55-2957 (piloted by Robert Mayte) conducting an empennage dynamics engineering test flight out of Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale. 
This XF-104 was bailed to Lockheed for use as a chase plane and for pilot checkout and proficiency.
The F-104A under test was flown to 12,500 ft at subsonic speeds under full military power with the XF-104 in chase. 
On the second test the F-104A was accelerated to Mach 1.05 at which point Park in the XF-104 was subsonic and dropping back. He then reported control trouble and shortly thereafter that he was bailing out. 
Mr. Park experienced difficulty trying to eject, but eventually ejected and was not injured.
Park landed one-half mile southeast of the XF-104 impact point and was picked up by a civilian in a truck who had seen him land. He rode to the scene of the crash where a California State Highway Patrol car took him to the hospital.
Duration of flight was just 10 minutes

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