MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-8-63CF (REGISTRATION: N950JW)
On 11 December 1985 at 20:35 GMT, Arrow Air Flight MF1285R, a Douglas DC-8-63, departed Cairo, Egypt on an international charter flight to Fort Campbell, USA via Köln, Germany, and Gander. The flight had been chartered by the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) to transport troops, their personal effects, and some military equipment to and from peacekeeping duties in the Sinai Desert. All 248 passengers were members of 101st Airborne Division (United States Army), based in Fort Campbell. The flight arrived at Köln at 01:21 were a complete crew change took place. The DC-8 departed for Gander at 02:50 GMT, where it arrived at 05:34 local time. Passengers were deplaned, the aircraft was refuelled, trash and waste water were removed, and catering supplies were boarded. The flight engineer conducted an external inspection of portions of the aircraft and the passengers then reboarded. Following engine start-up, the aircraft was taxied via taxiway "D" and runway 13 to runway 22 for departure. Takeoff on runway 22 was begun from the intersection of runway 13 at 06:45. The aircraft proceeded down the runway and rotated in the vicinity of taxiway "A", 51 seconds after brake release at an airspeed of about 167 KIAS. The aircraft gained little altitude after rotation, the speed reached 172 KIAS and began to decrease again, causing the DC-8 to descend. The airplane crossed the Trans-Canada Highway at a very low altitude. The pitch angle increased, but the aircraft continued to descend until it struck downsloping terrain approximately 3,000 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. The DC-8 broke up and burst into flames.
Fatalities: 256 / Occupants: 256
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SURNAME
Gonzalez
FORENAME
Roberto
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Private First Class
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
GRAVESITE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Quebradilla,Puerto Rico
killed in air crash Gander,Newfoundland
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SURNAME
Fitch
FORENAME
David
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Specialist Fourth Class
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
20
GRAVESITE
Arlington National Cemetery,Virginia Section 60
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Washington,D.C.
born 6.1.1965...
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SURNAME
Gantzer
FORENAME
Kevin A.
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Sergeant
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
22
GRAVESITE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Wheeling,West Virginia
killed in air crash Gander,Newfoundland
-
SURNAME
Abrams
FORENAME
Mark Edward
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Private First Class
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
19
GRAVESITE
Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens, Prosperity, Raleigh County, West Virginia, USA
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born...
-
SURNAME
Hansen
FORENAME
William W. III
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Private First Class
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
20
GRAVESITE
Arlington National Cemetery,Virginia Section 60
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Stafford,Virginia
born...
-
SURNAME
Colby
FORENAME
Stephen R.
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Specialist Fourth Class
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
19
GRAVESITE
Arlington National Cemetery,Virginia Section 60
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Colonial Beach,Virginia...
-
SURNAME
Bowen
FORENAME
Robert A.
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Chief Warrant Officer Third Class
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
37
GRAVESITE
Arlington National Cemetery,Virginia Columbarium No.1
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from...
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SURNAME
Hardeman
FORENAME
Chester D.
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Private
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
GRAVESITE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Dallas,Texas
killed in air crash Gander,Newfoundland
-
SURNAME
Gray
FORENAME
Christopher T.
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Specialist Fourth Class
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
19
GRAVESITE
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery,San Antonio,Texas Section S Site 129-B
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...
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SURNAME
Cupples
FORENAME
Troy R.
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Private First Class
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
GRAVESITE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Porter,Texas
killed in air crash Gander,Newfoundland
-
SURNAME
Cartwright
FORENAME
Dennis
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Private
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
GRAVESITE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Silsbee,Texas
killed in air crash Gander,Newfoundland
-
SURNAME
Harden
FORENAME
Benny J.
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Chief Warrant Officer Third Class
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
38
GRAVESITE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Clarksville,Tennessee
killed in air crash Gander,Newfoundland
-
SURNAME
Godsey
FORENAME
David L.
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Sergeant First Class
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
36
GRAVESITE
Mountain Home National Cemetery,Johnson City,Tennessee Section LL Site 2492
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from...
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SURNAME
Givens
FORENAME
Gary Lynn
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Sergeant
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
GRAVESITE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Clarksville,Tennessee
killed in air crash Gander,Newfoundland
-
SURNAME
Foskey
FORENAME
Thomas J.
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Corporal
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
22
GRAVESITE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Clarksville,Tennessee
killed in air crash Gander,Newfoundland
-
SURNAME
Ferguson
FORENAME
Mark W.
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Specialist Fourth Class
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
GRAVESITE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Kingsport,Tennessee
killed in air crash Gander,Newfoundland
-
SURNAME
Dixon
FORENAME
Thomas D.
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Specialist Fourth Class
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
GRAVESITE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Sequatchie,Tennessee
killed in air crash Gander,Newfoundland
-
SURNAME
Davis
FORENAME
James A.
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Sergeant
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
GRAVESITE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Knoxville,Tennessee
killed in air crash Gander,Newfoundland
-
SURNAME
Brancato
FORENAME
Charles F.
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn)
RANK
Sergeant
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
GRAVESITE
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
from Clarksville,Tennessee
killed in air crash Gander,Newfoundland
-
SURNAME
Avillan
FORENAME
Luis Antonio
UNIT
502 Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) (3 Bn) (101 Finance Company,attached)
RANK
First Lieutenant
NUMBER
DATE OF DEATH
12th December 1985
AGE
27
GRAVESITE
Puerto Rico National Cemetery,Bayamon,Puerto Rico Section J Site 35...