F-104A "FG-768" AFFTC at Edwards AFB chasing NB-52A "003" Stratofortress with X-15 under the wing 1958

F-104A, construction number 183-1056, model 183-93-02, US serial number 56-0768, built by Lockheed
56-768 was finished at the productionline for test flying on August 5, 1957
accepted by the US Air Force after acceptance testing on November 6, 1957; one day later it was delivered to the US Air Force and flown over
to Edwards to join the ARDC (November 1957-June 1959) as AFFTC support aircraft; it has been modified once to JF-104A and was transferred
for specific duties to the ARDC at Wright Patterson Air Base from May 1958 till April 1959
crashed at Edwards AFB after a broken oil-line causing a fire on June 30, 1959, pilot Capt Norvin C. "Bud" Evans ejected safely
last downward ejection, Stanley C1 ejection seat, written off.

June 30, 1959: this F-104A flew as an AFFTC support aircraft at Edwards AFB. On this date it was flying a chase support mission (X-2) with a
F-11F Tiger flown by RCAF Lieutenant Jack Woodman. The F-104A (piloted by Captain Norvin Evans) made a normal AB take-off 7 seconds behind
the F-11F from Rwy 4 at Edwards AFB. After becoming airborne, strong fumes were noted in the cockpit. Instrument readings appeared normal
however and the fumes dissipated. A max afterburner climb was made to approximately 45,000 feet and the flight continued in the supersonic
corridor in the vicinity of Cuddeback and Harper Lakes descending to 35,000 feet and performing S-turns in the corridor.
Coming out of AB to .9 Mach as the flight turned out of the west end of the supersonic corridor, engine roughness and noise caused the pilot
to check oil pressure, which was passing through 30 PSI and dropping steadily. The F-104A and F-11F then commenced a return to base due to the malfunction. On descending approach
to Edwards the F-104A continued a steady drop in oil pressure with intermittent engine vibrations. Oil pressure dropped to zero about 30 miles west of the town of Rosemond.
The pilot increased throttle to 96% and attempted a straight-in approach to Rwy 4 at Edwards AFB. He turned long final at 9,000 feet and 400 knots with rapidly decreasing airspeed and
heavy engine vibration. As he actuated the speed brakes the engine began grinding loudly and vibrating heavily. The radio failed as he was transmitting his difficulties. The nozzles began
oscillating between full open and full close. The throttle was closed. Airspeed bled off to 250 knots passing 7,000 feet in a steep descent. The aircraft was vibrating heavily and yawing left
 and right. Smoke began to pour into the cockpit as well as the smell of hot metal. The pilot hooked up his zero lanyard, pulled back on the stick and ejected at approx 2,500 feet as the
aircraft pitched up. The seat remained in close proximity to the pilot so that only the lap belt release was actuated even though the zero lanyard was attached. Pilot had to manually
actuate the D-ring and his parachute deployed normally at 1,000 feet. The pilot landed safely. The F-104A crashed into the ground and exploded. Total duration of flight was 23 minutes.
The crash occurred 4 miles from the approach end of Rwy 4 at Edwards AFB. Pilot was Captain Norvin C. Evans (USAF Reserve) with ARDC, AFFTC, Edwards AFB

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