F-104A "FG-813" (56-0813) 538th FIS Westover AFB, Massachusetts, Air Defense Command May 1958 F-104A, construction number 183-1101, model 183-93-02, serial number 56-0813, built by Lockheeddelivery date May 23, 1958; 337th FIS (May 1958-June 1960); 151st FIS TENN ANG June 1960-March 1962 crashed March 19, 1962 after midair collision during a GCA instrument approach into Ramstein AFB with 56-0848 a mile west of Ramstein AB, pilot was killed, written off. copyright © Peitzmeier archive via USAF DoD March 19, 1962, 56-0813 and 56-0848 collided midair and crashed while landing at Ramstein AB, Germany. Both pilots of the 151st FIS, Tennessee ANG were killed. They had deployed for the Berlin Crisis. 1 pilot ejected but it was too low for his parachute to deploy. 1 pilot made no ejection. Following a routine formation instrument flight, both aircraft set up for GCA approach and formation landing. Both aircraft reported gear down and locked and had made only minor adjustments on the GCA letdown. The wing aircraft, 813, continued uncontrolled almost straight ahead and fell into a left bank prior to impact. FOD, apparently from the crushed left duct, resulted in loss of thrust and forward speed. The lead aircraft, 848, went into advanced pitch-up, continued 365 feet right of GCA centerline. His aircraft was nose-high and in a right bank, with insufficient forward speed and rocket trajectory for the B-15 type parachute to open. This aircraft caught fire shortly after crash and was destroyed.
