F-104A "6742" (56-0742) bailed to General Electric in 1959

F-104A, construction number 183-1030, model 183-93-02, US serial number 56-0742, built by Lockheed
delivery date June 28, 1957, ARDC (June 1957-June 1959), crashed on landing approach at Edwards AFB, June 23, 1959 during GE test flight. 
Aircraft was bailed to General Electric (GE) at time of the crash. General Electric test pilot Marvin M. "Whitey" Van Salter (GE) ejected, 
but was too low to the ground and the parachute failed to open, pilot was killed.

On June 23, 1959 the airplane was making a normal landing at Edwards AFB after a development flight. When the pilot, Marvin "Whitey" Van Salter, deployed the flaps, 
the interconnect cable sheared and caused an asymmetric flap (split flaps) condition. The airplane rolled, and Van Salter ejected, but was too low to the ground and was killed. 
The airplane was completely destroyed.

copyright © Chris Baird