Air Force B-52 Crashes Just Before Landing in Washington | Loose Cannon (With Real Video)

Find out why a Boeing B-52 strategic bomber of the United States Air Force crashed at Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington while practicing for a flight display.
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This video has been recorded and edited in 4K resolution and 60FPS.

[@NoSoup4U2]

Yeah I heard about this guy in the past, from my father, who is a retired Capt. He told me that Holland went through several crews who broke ranks, filed grievances and refused to fly with him. One pilot said of Holland, "He flies a B-52 as if it were a fighter jet. The last crew he was with, before them refusing to ever fly with him again stated, "he's going to kill someone one day". Not long after that, this incident happened. What I don't get is, how the hell can a man with a record like that, be in charge of an entire bomber wing? His hotdogging on his own retirement took 3 other innocent lives with him! What a bloody shame!

[@thierrylangford5199]

Because no one had the balls to tell him no, that’s why these incidents keep happening.

[@NoSoup4U2]

@@thierrylangford5199 Yep, you are 100% right Thierry Langford. Lets hope that trend changes soon, before more folks die for no good reason! Thanks for commenting too!

[@markberger1882]

Where was the monitoring of this maniac? With his extensive devil-may-care attitude on many previous flights the authorities should have grounded him permanently. What about a report to be filed with NTSB? The real shame here, on top of loss of life, was that no action had been taken on those previous flights. This guy was a killer waiting to happen, and three other innocents were his victims! What a damn shame, and such poor oversight!!!

[@Ultimate_Wasabi]

It was Wolff's retirement flight, not Holland's.

[@NoSoup4U2]

​@@Ultimate_Wasabi Yes, you are correct. His colleague killed him on his last flight. I read some of the other comments, saying how said it was and how it was pilot error...etc. This wasn't sad, it was criminal and a complete disregard to safety protocol and lack of respect for the lives of the other 4 men he took with him for hotdogging a bomber, like it was a fighter jet. Many of his other colleagues filed many complaints against him, with some refusing to fly with him I was told. This should never of happened and he should of had his wings clipped long ago!!

[@harry8097]

“Aviation in itself is not inherently dangerous. But to an even greater degree than the sea, it is terribly unforgiving of any carelessness, incapacity, or neglect”. - Captain Alfred Gilmer Lamplugh. I had this a poster with this quote pinned up on my wall when I was learning to fly, read it every day, and kept it in the back of my mind through 45 years of professional flying. No truer words ever spoken!

[@rembrant34]

I had this poster too, with a picture of an early era biplane planted firmly in a tree. So true. Cautious words of wisdom that rang in my head for many years in the cockpit.

[@AgentMorgan2010]

Nah, it's inherently dangerous.

[@Mommyandtux]

@@AgentMorgan2010 I fail to see what's inherently dangerous about packing a giant 40,000 lbs aluminum cigar tube full of people and thousands of gallons of jet fuel and hurling at 500 mph 6 miles in the sky ? It doesn't seem much more risky than my Kia Soul running out of gas.

[@AgentMorgan2010]

@@Mommyandtux You know what? You've changed my mind! Come to think of it, that's not an inherently precarious proposition at all!

[@krashd]

@@Mommyandtux But without carelessness, incapacity or neglect that scenario is perfectly safe. What are you going to hit at 6 miles up?

[@leokimvideo]

When a pilot has a career of taking risks and getting away with them it's only a matter of time before the risk taking ends in disaster

[@usveteran9893]

Totally Agree, unfortunately, he had disregard for others' life as well.

[@richard1472]

Yes, the lack of accountability seems to be trending in America these days.

[@davidearl-graef4287]

@@usveteran9893 You could not be more wrong about Bud Holland.

[@usveteran9893]

@@davidearl-graef4287 Ok I am wrong. But many other fellow pilots turned against him and said he was a risk-taker and showboat. I could care less one way or the other.

[@davidearl-graef4287]

@@usveteran9893 I know 100% that the vice commander asked to take his final flight before retiring from flight duty on that sortie because he took my seat (jump seat ) on that airplane and Bud asked me if that was OK and I agreed. If so many thought he was a risk taker and dangerous would you ask to take your fini-flight with him in command with many of your family watching? I think not. Most of what happened after the tragedy was to cover the asses of the command staff. I was there I saw them do it. A lot of them were Jealous of Bud because he was the best and he knew it and was a Chuck Yeager kind of guy. No crew member that was on that plane was not there voluntarily because they had confidence in his ability to fly that profile. I suspect that the right seater by error or a mechanical factor was in control when the plane stalled. The hatch on the co side blew as he tried to eject so Bud was in control at impact. Knowing him as I did and Bud knowing they were all going to die made a split second decision to increase the angle as he knew exactly what to do to avoid hitting the survival school dorm which was full of 100+ students. He was that good. Peace

[@scottcol23]

Imagine dying on your last career flight in the military. This upset me. And the fact that his family was there to see the whole thing go down is just horrible. The world lost some great people that day. yeah it was stupid and total pilot error... But they didn't deserve that at all. I hope their families were taken care of

[@johnniepope7214]

The Major was my Squadron Commander I knew his whole family... This was sad I was on leave when this happened and saw it from my Hotel Room in Montana on my way to VA. I had just talked to him the week it happened and told him I would see him when I got back... never got to see him again:( It was unfortunate and a total tragedy.. I will always remember Major McGheehan He was a great Leader and a Humble man. May they all Rest In Paradise

[@The_Beast_666]

@@johnniepope7214 Sir my jaw just dropped reading your comment. God bless you and the whole family who underwent this mishap!

[@taylorswift5246]

The other people other then the dip shit pilot did not deserve that . And to be on ur last flight acting like a dip shit seems to me like he wanted to die and his family and friends to suffer cause he invited them there.

[@taylorswift5246]

@@johnniepope7214 lol he seems like a sewer sidal maniac and just cause you know him and he was nice to you seems like you don't wanna believe he was a crazy nut job who killed innocent people on his last flight cause he was depressed he was never gonna fly again. So he wanted to cause destruction flying a b 52 into a nuclear site. Thank god he wasn't able to make it. And no one else was hurt .

[@taylorswift5246]

@@johnniepope7214 may he restinpiss

[@blogovitchxyz]

What strikes me most is how fast it can go from ok to disaster in 3 seconds.

[@Mommyandtux]

Shit was definitely not ok.

[@williamwingo4740]

"Thou shalt maintain thine airspeed, lest the Earth rise up and smite thee."

[@Mommyandtux]

@@williamwingo4740 An applicable proverb in this situation: "Pride goeth before the fall."

[@TrajectoryT]

@@williamwingo4740 "Twice the pride. Double the fall"

[@jeffparkinson5005]

Because the greater the bank angle becomes the more the danger increase, the greater a planes wings bank the less lift they have, this pilot banked it to the point of having no lift left ...... thus the point of no return. He in effect turned those flight capable wings....... into a very large and deadly aluminum knife. Sad that this guy wasn't removed many years before he got to kill two others along with himself.

[@AnOrangeOrange1000]

In India, there's a saying among the Truck Drivers - "Respect the Machine or else, the Machine will punish you." That seemed to be coming true in this case.

[@rudyramos5911]

Well said AJ

[@mohitdhameja5914]

Shi baat

[@timmack2415]

There another saying in India "This is the Social Security Administration" or the IRS, or Amazon, or Microsoft.......

[@paulsuprono7225]

Couldn't have texted it . . . any better ! 😎🇺🇸

[@toddb930]

Good saying AJ. Thanks for sharing.

[@jgreenberg]

During my training, there was a poster stuck in the break room at the airport "The superior pilot uses superior judgment to avoid the use of his superior skills." This mantra has stuck with me ever since. All of my students know, I repeat this to them before every solo they go on. This crash, as I learned about it in university was what made me take that poster even more seriously and made hazardous attitudes a major focus regarding my own interest in promoting aviation safety. RIP to the others 'Bud' sadly took with him.

[@RoseUnseen]

kiss KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID

[@-ShootTheGlass-]

Agree. I also remember the saying “altitude is a pilots best friend”. If he’d performed this manoeuvre at 10,000 feet, no problem.

[@danceswithmules]

Another version of that saying was "There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots. There are no old bold pilots."

[@michaelquillen2679]

Great poster! Taped to the panel in my trainer was this: "Watch thy airspeed, altitude, and gas; lest the ground cometh up and smite thy ass!" My CFI (RIP) was a crusty ol' crab who flew the A-6 Intruderder in 'nam. He handled a plane like it was an extension of his body...amazing! He was big on safety and avoiding getting one's self into sticky situations. We practiced every conceivable stall situation many times and I learned to recognize how these situations can occur and how to avoid them. Yep, it cost a few more $$$ but my life is worth it. Can't thank him enough for not being one who just pushed me through with the minimum of training to my private ticket.

[@deborahmiorgan829]

Charles Lindberg once said that only the best should ever be allowed to fly someone else's aircraft.

[@sailorman92704]

My father was an air force pilot most of his career life flying C141's and C130's..... people would say "I bet being a pilot is exciting"..........My Dad's response....."Not if you do it right"

[@tehjamerz]

Lol

[@ThunderloverHAHA3214]

Tf you mea lol, if your dad died,would you say “lol”in his funeral?

[@tehjamerz]

@@ThunderloverHAHA3214 No, I didnt say, "lol", at his funeral, why do you ask?

[@ThunderloverHAHA3214]

@@tehjamerz cause saying lol at someones death is disrespectful

[@tehjamerz]

@@ThunderloverHAHA3214 lol

[@TheDeJureTour]

There is an old saying: "That which you tolerate, you get more of." The pilot should have been disciplined long before this happened.

[@3RTracing]

The pilot should have been grounded long before this happened.

[@Sierrahtl]

There is another saying amongst heavy af pilots and maintenance crews.. “There are old pilots, bold pilots, but no old bold pilots.” This guy is neither.. he is just a idiot.

[@brandongonzalez4348]

That old saying is legendary

[@cat637d]

@@Sierrahtl The same can be said of Electricians

[@schmingusss]

It's easy to say but difficult to discipline a psychopath.

[@lex1945]

Stunt flying a B-52... What could go wrong?

[@davidh6300]

And at 150 feet too.

[@kensoran0013]

ikr

[@conflagrationTuesday]

..at stall speeds 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@rosemarydudley9954]

Lex .... ooooops!

[@ressljs]

About 10 years ago, they tried the same thing with a C-17. Not surprisingly, they got the same results.

[@TennilleE82]

The last paragraph says it all....he got lucky all of the times he flew unsafely that he truly believed he'd always be able to get out of unsafe situations. Chilling how it was his last flight and that they were so close to preforming the touch and go.

[@chuckg2016]

It's a shame three others lost their lives due to the inaction of an entire command. Years of valuable experience and a critical aircraft irretrieveably lost.

[@robinmuirhead2617]

"There are old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots!" says it all

[@kamacazi9639]

The bold pilots don’t live to be old

[@msgstar4933]

Same with boat captains

[@badian37]

My Dad flew for USMC for over 20 years and retired with over 10K Flight Hours! He used to say this to me as a growing kid often....

[@jimmyhaley727]

you cannot stop a Terrorist or a man with a will to die

[@stevemc01]

@@kamacazi9639 unless RNGesus decides so lol

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

My Dad was one of the Investigators in that incident. He was angry for 3 months afterwards. He called it the "Most irresponsible piece of flying he had ever seen". He was further shocked by the guy's record of irresponsible flying, virtually left unchecked. R.I.P.

[@SniperHarry]

I bet I spoke with your father. Small world.

[@robinj.9329]

Yup! This was just unbelievable! And should have NEVER happened.

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

@@SniperHarry He questioned the entire Wing, then went through Records with his Staff. They even WANTED to find something Medical... Because there's no way a Pilot of his experience - even if an IDIOT - would ever bank an Aircraft that large, that steep while flying THAT low. I had always hoped that SOMEONE ejected. Yeah they would have been seriously injured, but maybe they could have offered valuable insights...

[@dtz1000]

I don't think i have ever been angrier watching one of these videos. This was beyond stupid.

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

@@dtz1000 Absolutely!! I've inverted a 737.... IN A SIMULATOR. I wouldn't play with Human life like that!

[@bertaglen]

I flew with Col Holland many times. He had a John Wayne persona that everyone in the unit laughed and chuckled at but was proud of his “hot-dogging.” You should realize you have a problem when we were ordered to strip any unsecured items from the cockpit when he flew for an air show. And the B-52 was the grande finale flying after the thunderbirds...nuts! I thankfully left Fairchild in ‘93.

[@justincase5272]

Same, although I wasn't proud of him at all. He was an ass. It came down to duty. An earlier commander asked me in '92 if I felt comfortable flying with Holland, to which I replied, "He's dangerous. Definitely keeps me on my toes, and one hand on the trigger ring." If I didn't fly with him, someone else would.

[@jimmydcap]

B52 is definitely not a stunt plane. He should have been grounded lobg b4 this happened. I wonder if his aircrew ever questioned his ability to be a safe pilot. Ive flown with hot dogs. And had a few close calls.

[@MrWiredawg]

Glad you outa there!

[@mooseandsquirrel9887]

Well, it sounds like everyone knew about this showoffs behavior and as usual no one did anything about it……folks should be glad he’s out of the mix…..shame his crew perished with him…..

[@anthonydrake4244]

@@justincase5272 Why? If everyone knew this man's failings and did not outright tell the wing commander it would eventually kill someone,. the greater shame is on you. If it were me I'd be reticent to admit it.

[@MrDlt123]

I am retired Air Force, and knew several of the players in the story. I will say that the Flight Channel's depiction is accurate as I understand it. This event caused a major dynamic shift in how the Air Force operates, and flying squadrons in particular. I dont know if that's currently true as Ive been retired for nearly 2 decades. Lone wolf or renegade characters like 'Maveric' in 'Top Gun' have always made it into the ranks, and to a point their confidence adds value. But given time and the right (maybe 'wrong' is a better word) conditions, unchecked cavalier attitudes sometimes cost lives. Several fine Officers lost their lives in this case, and I include Bud Holland in that, because he too was a fine pilot, but one who had not received the correct training, supervision and mentoring over his career. If all else fails, repeat violations should be grounds for reassignment or dismissal from service. RIP to all of the fine aviators in this story.

[@frederickwhite6416]

We studied the crash in the AF. He had been trouble for years and shouldn't have been on flight status period. He should have been driving a desk. RIP.

[@anonymike8280]

He should have been driving a truck. Or maybe not even that. As above, so below. Right?

[@frederickwhite6416]

@@anonymike8280 We had a problem pilot. Complaints were filed nothing was done. This was overseas. The 2 pilots who filed the complaint jumped the Chain of Command when nothing was done. They were both forced out of the AF. The pilot who the complaint was filed against was promoted. He was the worst pilot in the squadron and 1 of the worst AC Commanders I've flown with. He probably retired out a General, last I saw he was a full bird.

[@anonymike8280]

@@frederickwhite6416 The priority with the command though was who was willing to fly a subsonic heavy bomber into Soviet airspace if it came to it. If someone is assessed as willing to do the mission as ordered, maybe they get the slack. Maybe the Air Force was willing to take the risk of losing a plane and crew. The individual does not count.

[@frederickwhite6416]

@@anonymike8280 of course by this time the Cold War was over, SAC was gone and ACC took over. My situation came years later in Herc Es & in Afghanistan H-2 & 3s.

[@rocketeerPM2500]

Frederick White I agree with your comments. But your RIP should not extend to the asshole Capt. Holland. He was an arrogant SOB whose criminal STUPIDITY cost other crew lives, and brought untold suffering to their wives & families.

[@apexnc109]

From what I remember is that Lt Col McGeehan wouldn't allow any of his men to fly with Lt Col Holland because of his reckless flying since the Air Force wouldn't ground him so he flew as co-pilot costing him his life but saving someone else.

[@TheRunAndGun10]

That is my understanding as well. Classic case of going along to get along. It frustrates me how they let him go on so long.

[@redsloane879]

Yes, that's correct

[@johnniepope7214]

I was in his Squadron he was a great man and yes he did just that and it cost him his life. This was tragic.... One of the best Commanders I ever served with for sure. SMSgt Johnnie K Pope USAF Retired RIP Sir

[@KONAMAN100]

That's incredible. I bet he had a few very harsh last words as this went pear shaped. I hope he did ...

[@matthewimi]

Correct. I remember that rumor going around

[@CAPEjkg]

He wasn't professional, he was an ass in love with himself and took 3 other innocent lives with him. Leadership failure to get his ass out of the cockpit! What a preventable waste!

[@tonyf.9806]

And how much you want to bet all those senior officers who knew if this reckless flying kept their jobs, or even got promoted.

[@bertrandlechat4330]

How a narcissist came to grief.

[@oumgia5643]

And you know what else, he found out that he wasn't that good of a pilot after all. Too bad others were there.

[@oumgia5643]

@Captain Chaos It's so messed up.

[@richardcline1337]

@@tonyf.9806, isn't that what normally happens with military (br)ass? They go all out to cover each other and their lame mistakes no matter what the cost in lives or material.

[@edburton6472]

I was living in Airway Heights, WA (a small town just NE of the Fairchild runway) when this incident occured. I was using my computer and had a serious AC power fluctuation when the B-52 cut through high voltage power lines moments before impacting the ground. Then the crash sounds prompted me to go outside when I observed the huge ball of black smoke from over at the base. The news later reported that the bomber crashed when the pilot was "hot dogging" and flying the huge jet like a fighter aircraft in preparation for the upcoming base open house. The horrible thing about this incident was that a number of the crewmember's families were watching from the flightline. What a waste!

[@doyoulovehimloretta1607]

Imagine all the lives he put at risk throughout his career. Unbelievable arrogance.

[@f-15estrikeeagle35]

A squadron commander who happened to be the co pilot of the flight had to ban all his squadron mates from ever flying with Holland

[@cornfusedatbest6693]

Imagine ... every time you board an airliner. You know this person personally? (pilot) The point is, this scenario could play out ... the pilot's having ... just one of those days. Or, maybe someone was absent on LUGNUT DAY and the wheels might fall off on landing. LIFE is a GIFT, appreciate it while it's here. I sat in a window seat from FLA. to OH. and watched the wing damn near come off. No one said a word and we landed just fine. I will be forever grateful for the life I have left. And yes, I kissed the ground when I hit the dirt. Talk about giving one a sense of humility, I even apologized to the fat guy who snored and used up all MY space on that flight, though he had no idea why. Thank GOD for Dewars.

[@timby2383]

most of the Air Force's aircrew have pretty high arrogance, but this dude is the epitome of it.

[@geoh7777]

This attitude of superior officers to not clear out clearly psychotic or otherwise psychologically defective personnel is also present in police departments (and their district attorneys' offices) scattered around the nation, police command staff who protect officers under their command who apparently have a "psychotic episode," escalate the situation they are in, and kill unarmed individuals when the threat to the officer is actually nonexistent. Classic example: Philip Brailsford, Mesa Police Department, Mesa, Arizona. "Police officer who fatally shot sobbing man temporarily rehired to apply for pension" www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/police-officer-who-fatally-shot-sobbing-man-temporarily-rehired-apply-n1028981 Body cam footage released by the Mesa Police Department available here: www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2018/01/24/new-mexico-woman-sues-former-mesa-police-officer-found-not-guilty-murder/1062046001/ Understand that merely "making a mistake" is not punishable by death in the Untied States.

[@Snookynibbles]

@Jamie Tran, I wonder who banned the squadron commander from failing to ban Holland? That’s the real question!

[@TheBruces56]

I recall attending a risk management seminar years ago. The instructor showed this video and then said "You all have a "Bud" somewhere in your organization". It's true so try to ID him before it happens.

[@thesergio9444]

Are you talking about beer?

[@JohnSmith-qh6zh]

That's an exaggeration. Probalby one bud per every few thousand servicemembers, mayabe more, but yes you need to identify them if you can.

[@KatieBellino]

@@JohnSmith-qh6zh You're probably right for service members in general. I'd be willing to bet it is a higher percentage for those going into air force pilot careers as that will tend to draw in your "adrenaline junkie" personalities.

[@davidkelter8379]

I was there the day it happened. I was stationed at Fairchild AFB at that time. It was a very sad day considering our base was mourning the lives that were taken in a senseless shooting just 5 days prior. I shook hands with Col. Wolf the morning of the crash. The Honor Guard team I was on performed a greeting service for Tom Foley that morning. Col. Wolf was our Vice Base Commander at the time. Very nice person. There was no wind that day which was unusual for that area. The black cloud from the crash hung over the base for hours afterwards. Very erie and sad. I'll never forget that day. Or that week.

[@51Saffron]

With as many complaints. How come nothing was taken seriously?

[@davidkelter8379]

@@51Saffron because the "Good ole boy" system doesn't work that way.

[@51Saffron]

@@davidkelter8379 Wow. Shocking. I wont fly. Bad experience in the 70's.

[@christinesmith8330]

My dad nearly had an heart attack hearing about this. That plane and f 15 and 16s were his babies. Proud crew chief from 1962 to 1985. Vietnam vet. Career air force. We had a great life. And these air shows were the highlight of those yrs

[@SniperHarry]

Thank you for posting this. I must admit I had a hard time watching it because so many times people hide the truth about this crash. I remember this day clearly. I and my wife were still active duty then. In fact my wife was a photographer. The film and the photos of this crash were taken by her co-workers. Also thank you for making it clear that Holland was to blame for this. I was afraid you would not mention that, or would gloss over it like some many others have. He literately should never have been allowed to fly. The only good thing I can say about this is at least he didn't have a plane full of civilian passengers.

[@ErinPipes76]

Yep. And all of wing leadership knew he was in the cockpit to put on a show. He did.

[@viperbot5311]

Sorry. I cant wait for the update I can fix the bugs 🕷 lol 😝 thanks ☺️ I’ll buy a cookie

[@mnpd3]

In the Air Force accidents don't happen... crashes do, and someone is always at fault. The purpose of the accident board is to assign blame. This pilot was at fault, but even if he wasn't, the board would find someone who was.

[@waldothudpucker3240]

@@mnpd3 The Army is the same way and they always do. The only exception is a combat loss due to enemy action.

[@someonee3186]

Imagine seeing that crashed in front of your eyes, I feel so bad. That was painful to watch.

[@9HighFlyer9]

I did see it crash from just outside the base perimeter. That fireball was unbelievably orange and you could feel the heat from it. The video doesn't even come close.

[@kirbystarwell3701]

Especially to their families waiting for the landing ceremony. Can't describe that feeling man.... This happened June 24.

[@Powerranger-le4up]

You actually can. It’s on video

[@SniperHarry]

@@9HighFlyer9 I was on base when it happened. I had just left base ops.

[@gamercole5917]

Watching a video is brutal watching it

[@KvnDWr]

This one hit me especially hard. Not only was it his LAST day in the military, it also took place in front of his entire family. It's truly, truly, a terrible thing.

[@51Saffron]

It wasn't his last day, but Wolf.

[@mrFalconlem]

Yup, there is this pic from WW2 of a P-38 in small pieces all over the runway, I think it’s in one of those Time Life books. Anyway, hot dog did a loop after a mission over the runway, but he forgot about gravity and was to low, he paid the price and the taxpayers lost a plane. In his defense I will say it was a fighter not a B-52.

[@DarthVader1977]

@@mrFalconlem too* low

[@__eganista6372]

To that end, Holland wasn't entirely at fault. Instead those who knew exactly his character yet failed to stop him, were complicit.

[@jacktheripper5661]

I mean a few tried to stop him, his old crew reported him to the bomb squadron but those in higher command decided not to take away holland’s flying duty. They are the ones at fault.

[@dx1450]

I believe his commander was court-martialed for allowing him to continue to fly after his previous dangerous incidents.

[@seltaeb9691]

Exactly. He's not going to cease flying is he, that's why we have a rank system. Those who knew yet had the power did not ground him. They bear the main guilt here but would have been fudged. In triplicate. The 3 lambs who perished we don't know if they had a choice to decline an order to fly. Unlikely. Orders are orders. I hope the NOK sued their asses off. Fudged again no doubt.

[@glamdolly30]

As the saying goes, 'All it takes for evil to flourish, is for good men to do nothing'. Holland was a monster, whose bosses had the power to stop his nasty power games, before he killed someone. Yet they sat on their hands, and repeatedly failed to confront him. And as a result, his reckless conduct and disregard for the lives of others escalated. Holland caused the fatal crash, but weak men enabled it over many years, till his ego was so out of control he would inevitably kill someone, someday. Shame on them - and shame on anyone in a position of power over bullies, who stands back and lets them do their worst.

[@dx1450]

@@glamdolly30 It's just an example of the good ol' boy network. As long as you're buddies with the commanders, you can get away with lots of shit.

[@Fsrjtyttzma]

That bank angle was just straight up insane.

[@dx1450]

Suicidal, you mean.

[@Frip36]

Yep, I'm dumb as a brick and even I know you can't keep a heavy slow plane in the air without air under the wings. This guy turned the whole thing sideways rendering the wings useless.

[@xxlegolas]

@@Frip36 Worse than useless - the wings generate lift perpendicular to the lower surface of the wing. If you turn the aircraft sideways, that lift force will be acting parallel to the ground. As your bank angle passes 90 degrees, lift begins pushing the aircraft toward the ground.

[@MrMiD.Life.Crisis]

When I was first saw this I thought there mustve been some kind of failure for him to keep banking past the point (of no return) where the wings are no longer producing lift. A jammed rudder or alike. I was shocked when I learnt otherwise. RIP.

[@redbluesome2829]

It’s safe to assume that even Holland never intended for the plane to reach a 90 degree angle, but the craft was out of their control at that point, and before.

[@CaptainJadenAR]

Did anyone notice that he uploaded the video today, as the date in the accident day is also June 24, makes it 27 years difference? The accident is tragic, though. RIP to the pilots who died in here (Even if it was their fault).

[@las2665]

Exactly you are right

[@CarminesRCTipsandTricks]

It was just the Colonel flying.... The only thing the rest of the Crew did wrong was not bash him over the head!!

[@CaptainJadenAR]

Carmine's RC Tips True. And I know it was the Colonel. I wrote this comment before the plane crashed :)

[@marthahanley6650]

HIS fault. Now I've read comments where the co-pilot have said "This plane's mine. Or I'm in control now" or something like that but there must be ways to override this and keep it in their control.

[@CaptainJadenAR]

Martha Hanley, I know. My comment was actually posted before this crash animation happened. :)

[@creativegirl2474]

The screams at the end of the video- My heart.

[@billydeewilliams9104]

Poignant.

[@boballbee8744]

I was traveling south of Spokane that day. I saw the smoke plume come up. I followed the news. Growing up in SE Washington I miss the B-52s practicing low level.. They are a majestic plane.

[@V1RT8]

Blame on whoever made him Lt. Colonel and didn’t remove him from the flying line.

[@spcbelton]

Being in the good ol boys club got them all dead at the same time. He wouldve been pulled, decommissioned, grounded, and demoted ON TIME, if.........

[@williamwingo4740]

He had over 5,000 hours in the aircraft and was chief of "Standardization/Evaluation" for the wing. The mission profile had been approved, excessive bank angles and all, through the wing commander level. It was a practice session for an airshow a few days later and at the show itself there would have been hundreds or thousands of people on the ground. One of those killed was the designated "safety observer," but he had not attended the pre-flight briefing and boarded the aircraft after the engines were started. One person higher up in the chain of command was disciplined: he was fined $7500 and received a written letter of reprimand. Also, the whole episode is used today in various Air Force training programs as an example of "leadership failure." That's one way of putting it....

[@williamwingo4740]

@Billy Cole II There have been some allusions here and there to the "Ring-Knockers" culture in the AF; but the only reference I could find on the source of LtCol Holland's commission states that he was OTS, January 1971 (three years after me). There's no indication that he attended the academy. And as an O-5 with 23 years service and still in the cockpit, he was probably due to retire pretty soon. But I agree that his superiors must have been aware of the situation--or they should have been.

[@redbluesome2829]

@@williamwingo4740 Holland came into the Air Force from a college ROTC in Virginia. This was during the Vietnam era, where if any yayhoo with a degrees wanted to try their luck at being a military pilot, that was the time, because the need was there. He was indeed scheduled to retire approximately one month after this incident.

[@williamwingo4740]

@@redbluesome2829 "...any yahoo with a degree?" I'll have to plead no contest. I went from college to OTS to pilot training to navigator training to the back seat of the F-4.

[@EJ-74]

Hearing those screams sent chills down my back What a blatant disregard for other people's lives and for their families just to try to show off

[@MarksamtheMarksman_Official]

I think I may have heard some children in the background shouting, "dad" when the plane had crashed, and that really tore me up.

[@MarksamtheMarksman_Official]

@Captain Chaos Yh pretty sad. This teaches you not to be defiant and disobedient.

[@adirondacker007]

I'm an amazing pilot. I have flown a P-51 inverted under the Eiffel Tower. I've won dogfights with BF-109's between skyscrapers in NYC while flying a Huey Cobra. I've even performed a deadstick takeoff and landing in a Mustang... in a flight simulator. That's all Holland should have had access to as well.

[@natowaveenjoyer9862]

Which one?

[@adirondacker007]

@@natowaveenjoyer9862 MS Combat Flight Simulator

[@vickiweber4718]

I wish my dad was still alive so I could get his take on all of this. He was a flight instructor in the Air Force in the 60's.

[@CaIiforniaL0VE]

Oh but He is getting his take on it, while We witness it through videos he’s in Paradise with the crew (hopefully knocking some sense into that pilot 🙂)

[@justincase5272]

Vicki, your father would probably say it was a tragic accident years in the making which could have and should have been stopped by higher-ups years before.

[@mdaley4390]

Vicki - thanks to your Dad, we've got better pilots protecting our families. You have a right to be proud. God bless him.

[@scottw5315]

It's pretty simple really. Holland was a frustrated fighter jock. Guys like him can never get past the fact that they didn't get fighters hence they try to turn their aircraft into one. You are never going to look cool yanking and banking a four engine bomber, transport or helicopter but they still try with occasional tragic results. I believe there was a C-17 that was similarly doing an air show or practice or one.

[@kristofertogun9688]

THE WEBERS WERE FAMOUS FOR BEING GREAT MILITARY AVIATORS, MOSTLY AS INSTRUCTORS. CAPTAIN WEBER WAS ONE OF MY INSTRUCTORS DURING MY ALL JET SET UNDERGRADUATE NAVIGATOR TRAINING, CLASS 76O5, IN MATHER AIR FORCE BASE, SACRAMENTO CALIFORNIA

[@ARedMotorcycle]

"Aggressive pilot who often broke flight safety and other rules." "Let's put him in an air show. Yee haw!"

[@george40nelson4]

Why are these men piloting B 52,s when they should be driving trailer trucks , half asleep, and tail gaiting family vans ?

[@Snookynibbles]

@george40 nelson, Oh! Those are their brothers who flunked-out of flight school. They keep it going in the family any way they can.

[@tdickensheets]

@@Snookynibbles Survivors 0

[@HRHAstro]

@@george40nelson4 never served, eh?

[@george40nelson4]

@@HRHAstro Never served ,eh ? I served in Vietnam during the TET Offensive. I was with the 1st Infantry Division. Stationed in our area was the 1st Air Cavalry. I saw several incidents resulting in tragedy and loss of life because of stupid breaks in protocol . I really find it upsetting when people do fool hardy things and put themselves and others at risk. I am sure you agree.

[@keithdomin5015]

So heartbreaking to hear the screaming from the family members watching their love ones perish. IF Holland would have been grounded, this horrible tragedy would have been avoided.

[@patrickjwhited6567]

I remember seeing this one morning on the news as I was getting ready for work. In December '72 I was on a Navy cruiser at Yankee Station off the coast of N. Vietnam. Operation Linebacker 2 was underway and we could see Navy aircraft heading towards the coast, as well as the SAM's that the bad guys were putting up. One night I saw something that's never left my mind, a B-52 going down in flames. That huge vertical stabilizer was unmistakable. I never went out on deck at night again until we were on our way back to Japan. I just didn't want to see that ever again. Getting old sucks, but that one crew never had the chance to grow old, as with the crew in this video. RIP, all..

[@sonnygruntstick]

U.S. aircraft lost Date Type Service Cause 18 Dec. F-111A USAF unk. B-52G USAF SA-2 B-52G USAF SA-2 B-52D USAF SA-2 A-7C USN SA-2 20 Dec. B-52D USAF SA-2 B-52G USAF SA-2 B-52G USAF SA-2 B-52D USAF SA-2 B-52G USAF SA-2 B-52G USAF SA-2 A-6A USN SA-2 21 Dec. B-52D USAF SA-2 B-52D USAF SA-2 A-6A USN SA-2 22 Dec. F-111A USAF AAA 23 Dec. EB-66E USAF engine out A-7E USN SA-2 F-4J USN SA-2 26 Dec. B-52D USAF SA-2 B-52D USAF SA-2 27 Dec. F-4E USAF MiG-21 F-4E USAF MiG-21 HH-53 USAF small arms B-52D USAF SA-2 B-52D USAF SA-2 28 Dec. RA-5C USN MiG-21

[@VI-rt7sh]

There's an amazing video which uses the audio from one of the Linebacker B52s (along with a live map) on KZbin at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGHMmXxti7plhbs

[@jgunther3398]

relatable

[@DivingHawker]

I'm no pilot but just looking at how tight that turn was and how steeply he banked at such a low altitude just looked so wrong.

[@DivingHawker]

@Captain Chaos So many crashes unfortunately involve big planes being flown like fighter jets.

[@diptanshu-selfchallenger9562]

I know right! You can’t just fly a frickin subsonic bomber like a Fighter.

[@littleblackcar]

Especially in a B-52! It’s not a Mustang!

[@tnapeepeelu]

I don't even do that in any video game! With a fighter, let alone a huge bomber like that!

[@sealy3]

Old saying goes: "There are old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots!" Clichés usually prove themselves correct if given time.

[@anonymouscitizen2732]

Chuck Yeager...The greatest pilot the world has ever seen.

[@davedave5787]

thank God those kids just killed themselves and nobody else... hope his wings were revoked after the investigation. Thx TFC You Rock!!!!!

[@GopherBaroque61]

@@davedave5787 Kids? Holland wasn't a kid and the three other airmen in the aircraft with him died because of his recklessness. The other three didn't kill themselves. Holland killed them.

[@9HighFlyer9]

@@anonymouscitizen2732 he did live to be old and bold.

[@ysmithriley]

@@davedave5787 Why in the world are you calling these men KIDS?

[@ellie1595]

I really wish we could have heard a black box recording on this one! The other crew members were probably screaming at him. So sad that the innocent crew members lost their lives to this hot dog!

[@dx1450]

I bet the Air Force doesn't ever release the CVR audio.

[@seltaeb9691]

Why did they not refuse. Others did. Orders are orders but it seems you can refuse in the USAAF. Officers only of course. Lower ranks get shot. I'd rather eat gravel than fly with this idiot.

[@glamdolly30]

@@seltaeb9691 Agreed, the colleagues who accompanied him on this fatal flight must have known what he was like, they should have boycotted any flight he was on and told their superiors what they thought of him! Instead they kept their mouths shut and protected a bully - as did many men, for many years. As a result, the buffoon wasn't sanctioned - he was promoted! Egotistical show-offs like him who are not confronted escalate their offending, start to believe they are untouchable, and become entitled, dangerous monsters. It's poignant that Colonel Robert Wolf consented to let that maniac pilot his 'fini' flight marking his retirement, with his wife and kids present - and as a result, his family got to witness his death! Horrific. 'All it takes for evil to flourish, is for good men to do nothing'.

[@bobsnyder3309]

No black box in a Buff

[@MrDavewane]

When I was learning to fly in a Cessna 150 and practiced causing stalls we were always at a high altitude, yet I was always fearful that we would run out of airspace before we would recover. I had fellow pilots who were much less concerned about this than me. And yes I get the need for low altitude manoeuvres at Air Show in order to entertain the crowd; but simply say how frightening it can be as you start to "fall" to the ground and hope you recover in time. To apply full power and push the stick forward (to end the stall) and have to wait 8 seconds for the 8 engines of the B52 to respond, and at such a low altitude would be the stuff of nightmares.

[@bayknight20]

I do not get the need for manoevres at air shows, There should never be any fatal mishaps at these shows and yet they happen. And for what? So that a few people can go ooh and aah? NOT WORTH IT!

[@JerzeyBoy]

Honestly if I see a old authentic P-51 Red tail, or a BF-109 doing aerobatic maneuvers I'd probably have bad heart palpitations for the airplane. It's a shame that B-17 and her crew were lost.

[@mrgonnadoo]

Count 8 seconds in your head as the engines spool up, it's an eternity, I think at this point they knew it was all over!

[@waldothudpucker3240]

My student lessons were in the 152 Aerobat. That airplane was so stable it was hard work to get it out of shape in the air. Even in the bad weather winter months, it's almost unheard of for one to crash in VFR (unless I've missed more than I know).

[@williamparker1085]

there is a need to entertain spectators....what a load of nonsense

[@WestrnPhlyr2000]

I was stationed at Fairchild AFB during this period as a member of the 92nd CES (Civil Engineering Squadron). I would like to add a bit of perspective if I could from my POV. We (CES) had guys out on the flightline helping setup and prep for the air show that weekend who witnessed the crash firsthand. I heard the crash but did not see it, I thought it was a another plane coming in for the airshow. This happened on Friday (IIRC) 24 June 1994. Four days before that on Monday 21 June, Dean Mellberg went on a shooting spree through the FAFB hospital and surrounding buildings, killing and wounding numerous people including some of my friends and colleagues. I spent most of that week at the hospital directing and supervising contractors to get everything cleaned up and refurbished to get the hospital back open ASAP and was at my shop (office) in CE closing out a couple of those contracts when the plane crashed. It was not a good week at Farichild to say the least.

[@TJRohyans]

I had forgotten that the hospital shooting took place the same week. At the time I was stationed at Whiteman AFB, MO as a B-2 Phase Maintenance Inspector, having transferred from B-52H's at Minot AFB, ND the year before. I had been to Fairchild once before this happened on a TDY. One of the few northern tier bases where I would have actually enjoyed being stationed at.

[@bobmartin4942]

The SP that took out Dean fully deserved the medal he received for his action which saved countless others from injury or death.

[@WildBillCox13]

Thanks for your service.

[@kristita_888]

Horrific!

[@theshocker4626]

It didn't need to happen either, got these pussy brass who won't let personnel carry defensive weapons on base...who ever heard of such idiocy?

[@Hawkinsian]

Wow, always knew about the crash, didn't realise how high ranking the chaps onboard were!....and they had family/friends watching!

[@patrickmollohan3082]

That looney PIC ended the lives of 5 people, and fucked up the lives of the wives, children, and families of all aboard. Here's the thing...the USAF already had an assload of complaints on him...some probably the same or.higher rank. And they never ONCE considered pulling his wings!! That's just plain mind blowing!!!✈✈🇺🇸

[@roberthagedorn290]

@@patrickmollohan3082 It sounds like he may have had connections with higher ups. But even so, yes, it is mind blowing. Clearing the ridgeline by three feet flying a B-52 defies comments.

[@donkeninitz4590]

McGeehan reportedly insisted on joining the flight crew because he didn't want to put a subordinate a danger and was tired of Holland's antics.

[@tima.478]

@@roberthagedorn290 It really does!!!! In the Marines that would have gotten him discharged, seen it happen myself as a crew chief!

[@roberthagedorn290]

@@tima.478 He was getting close to retirement. Had he retired, he may have gotten a job as a pilot flying a commercial airliner. With his extensive experience, most airlines would have been happy to hire him. After a short term as first officer, he would soon have been promoted to captain.

[@sixstringedthing]

That live footage chills me everytime I see it. What's about to happen is obvious, but that flash as the BUFF strikes the powerlines just punches home that the crew are not going to walk away from this one. RIP. Fly safe aviators, civil and military.

[@bufferbuffer7320]

Even worse, it was filmed for Col. Wolffs retirement ceremony. Was his last flight. Family and friends standing right next to the camera.

[@DLeeDukeJr]

This video doesn't cover it although you can clearly see in the still photo. 2 Pilots Ejected but couldn't clear the fireball. Imagine that.... getting out only to be consumed in the chute by fire. The others died from impact and never saw the fire.. Just horrific

[@DLeeDukeJr]

@12:02 you can see it

[@murray8958]

@@DLeeDukeJr I saw something in the air and I wondered if that was someone ejecting... At least that was my first thought. They had to know something was wrong mins earlier to be able to have time to get out of the plane! How scary and to think you made it only to die in the fireball WOW!

[@rossbrown6641]

They were flying a killing plane and that's what happened. At least innocents were saved!

[@Bruce.-Wayne]

Rumor has it that the co pilot yelled at the last few seconds "you've killed us, bastard"

[@PacificNWRailfan]

@J M There were other crew members that refused to fly with the guy.

[@taylorswift5246]

Are you joking or is that really what someone said

[@Bruce.-Wayne]

@@taylorswift5246 ....its been said many times on several reports.....I guess it was based on the CVR(Cockpit Voice recorder) recovered

[@seltaeb9691]

@@taylorswift5246 sarcasm & wit here.

[@glamdolly30]

Let's face it, those guys were crazy to agree to get in a plane commanded by Lt Col Arthur 'Bud' Holland, they knew his lousy reputation! Can't have too much sympathy for the three who died with him - it's weak guys like them who enabled his egotistical risk-raking to get out of control. For years, too many cowards stood back and let him do whatever the hell he liked. Macho bullshit like Holland's thrives in the military, but it shouldn't - real men take a stand against that reckless, unprofessional BS! Because no one had the balls to confront and sanction him (instead he was promoted), the bastard was inevitably going to kill himself some day - and take others with him. Colonel Robert Wolff invited his family along that day to watch his 'fini' flight marking his retirement - it sure was his 'fini' flight. Instead of celebrating, they wound up watching his death in a fireball, aged 46. All thanks to Bud Holland - and the many poor excuses for men, who down the years could have stopped him, but didn't.

[@Adamdya]

He tried to fly that thing like a fighter jet.. rip everyone onboard :(

[@tommitoivonen3624]

My thoughts exactly.

[@junker15]

apparently there was talk on the playground amongst the kids that Bud was going to barrel-roll the B-52. The whole environment during this time must have been toxic.

[@paulholterhaus7084]

No.....You CANNOT fly fighters that way either............Paul

[@EazyDuz18]

@@paulholterhaus7084 you can ive done it on flight sim

[@YEETMAN-dt9mb]

@@EazyDuz18 On flight sim

[@markpfeifer1402]

I feel bad for the kids that had to watch their dads die right in front of them. Way to go, Bud.

[@dennistedder3384]

Oh shut up

[@Goat.14]

Oh shut up

[@xxkxllerkingxx9981]

@@dennistedder3384 Oh shut up

[@atodamadre3197]

@@Goat.14 Oh shut up.

[@Goat.14]

@@atodamadre3197 oh shut up

[@mikehoyle6092]

I was an AFOSI agent TDY to Fairchild for the hospital massacre a few days before. Some of us were returning to the base from lunch when this happened. We responded. I seized the tape you just saw from a Lt. who was filming for the pilot to review later. I turned it over to the Wing safety officer. He locked it in an AF pickup truck assigned to him. As aircraft mishaps are not in the AFOSI mandate, we left. 30 minutes later, we were alerted to the Wing safety truck being broken into. 30 minutes after that, it was being played on the local news.

[@LadyVoldemort]

I didn't scream, couldn't blink, just got my mouth hanged open, and keep repeating the crash dozens of times...can't imagine how the watching families of the victim's felt at that moment. 😲😭

[@erinthesystem9608]

This one was interesting for so many reasons: the nature of the flight, the live footage, and the findings regarding causes of the crash- inc. more footage! Well done. The mention of flying mere FEET above photographers brought to my mind the Cavalese cable-car disaster: In 1998, 20 people lost their lives when a U.S. Marine jet pilot flew too low into an Alpine valley, only to slice through the cable of a ski lift. So the people plunged to their deaths, crammed in a tiny metal cage. It always seems especially tragic, however, when a person dies on either their first day or their last day of a job.

[@ivanpetrov5185]

The pettiest thing of it is that the jet pilot didn't get any sentence as the US court decided he was more important than the Italians that have died.

[@Biend]

Yeah and the piece of shit pilots were acquitted.... I'm really surprised by how corrupt USA is, from the smallest sheriff's office all the way to USAAF high ranking officers - it's all one big old boys club. That Holland guy should've been booted many times, is what im trying to say.

[@axiomist4488]

I cant believe it ! Thats even sadder than the B52 incident. And the guy got away with murdering 20 people ? He should have gone to military prison for life .

[@GizmoRob176]

It's always the last of a job in the literal sense with that scenario.

[@hyperiongm330]

@@Biend Sounds like some people haven't researched the incident. The Navigator and Pilot of the EA-6B were initially found not guilty after claiming that they didn't know they were flying that low due to a supposed equipment malfunction and that their maps didn't say the cable cars were in the area. Both were later found guilty of obstruction of justice and dishonorably discharged after their EW technicians (who have no control over the aircraft's flight and were only charged in the event they attempted to interfere with the investigation) told investigators that a recording existed and had been destroyed by the flying crew, with one receiving a short prison sentence. Despite clear evidence that they lied to the tribunal about their actions and equipment (their maps were blatantly obsolete, the navigator was aware of the 2000 feet minimum height requirement, and the pilot and navigator lied about the status of their altimeter) they could not be re-charged with negligence and manslaughter due to being already found innocent under double jeopardy laws despite their duplicity.

[@deanladue3151]

It's stunning, in a sense that his superiors were aware of Hollands past transgressions. But decided to basically look the other way. The real culprit here is the ignorance of Hollands superiors, who were aware that he had shown a clear disregard for procedures and safety in operating a B-52 Stratofortress aircraft.

[@2Quietus]

Used to see it all the time. I served 24yrs and the "Buddy system" was alive and well. All you needed to do was get in "the click"; i.e. kiss enough ass, and you could damn near get away with anything and it'd be brushed under the table. They valued reputation and standing/rank over everything and it often cost well being of others....and in this case, other lives.

[@BroccoliHead7]

Not only did leadership let him continue flying, but they let him perform at an air show!!! They let him show his true colors in public setting.

[@gregj831]

@@2Quietus Yup! I was at Blytheville and it was very same situation there. Crazy Senior Leaders were just making shit up with NO ONE to check them. Anybody who was around SAC could see this coming.

[@bradmccullough8240]

The blood of the innocent people who died in this incident is on the hands of the superiors who knew his issues and didn't ground him

[@angelainamarie9656]

Privelege, and arrogance.

[@jonallen5439]

Don't forget that this happened 4 days after Dean Melgren shot up the base hospital, killing 4 and injuring 22. Once you do a deep dive into both incidents your realize that leadership at Fairchild AFB was woefully lacking.

[@diamonddave8938]

I was stationed at Fairchild when this happened and I remember it distinctly. As a previous commenter mentioned there had been a shooting at the base hospital only a week prior. My recollection is that the bomber had been performing air show practice for several minutes. I remember hearing it flying over my base housing. I then grabbed my camcorder (long before cell phones) and ran outside to film. The pilot made at least one low level pass, came around and as he made the second low level pass he banked and the accident occurred. I remember the stories coming out about the pilot being a known dangerous pilot, but what really stood out was a commanders call shortly after and someone asking why the base was building a memorial for the crew (its probably still there) and noting the mishap may have been prevented if the reckless pilot had been grounded.

[@Some1_No1]

In 1987, I was a brand new B-52 copilot going through initial qualification training at Castle AFB. Lt Col Bob Wolff was in my same class as a requal pilot. He was a very laid back, kind man. I will never forget him. I was saddened to learn of his untimely passing in this horrific accident. Years later, I was stationed (Barksdale AFB) with Bud Holland's former copilot from Fairchild. He kept a photo of Bud's gravestone on his desk. At first, I thought that was a little extreme, but after hearing first hand the horror stories of Bud's recklessness from him, it all made sense to me...

[@justincase5272]

Fitting.

[@Billcornhole]

The internet never lies. 🤔

[@mjleger4555]

Holland SHOULD have been grounded long before the fatal incident! He was an egoist who had had no business flying with his attitude AND the solid evidence against him in his prior actions!

[@ilovecops5499]

I was there too! Its all truew!

[@mjleger4555]

The man who kept the picture of Holland's gravestone on his desk, no doubt used it as a poignant teaching tool for what NOT to do for training sessions for newer pilots; it certainly would be an effective reminder of what NOT to do when flying. I'll never forget seeing the 'Buff" in a 90-degree angle in that turn, I KNEW there was no lift there and that the Buff would crash. You can't defy the laws of physics and expect to live through it! You cannot turn like that unless you have enough thrust, altitude and LIFT to get you through a high-degree turn like that. I was just terribly sorry that Wolff and the others had to die due to Holland's recklessness, which HAD been demonstrated before -- he simply should have been grounded long before the horrific accident occurred.

[@-DC-]

USAF just as guilty as Holland for killing these men he should never have been in that cockpit on the fateful day, RIP to all involved as many have found out the safety rules are written in blood.

[@SniperHarry]

Exactly. Holland was not cleared to fly that day but the higher ups gave him a waiver for that flight. There's plenty of blame to go around.

[@ruehl3853]

I say the airforce should put aggressive pilots in fighter jets. Basically understanding their strengths from weaknesses. Had he been in a f22 or f16 he would've easily made all those turns and maneuvers. Not saying it wasn't his fault he died I'm surprised his aircraft didn't break from the stress of that first dive many planes have had their wings come off for much less.

[@SniperHarry]

@@ruehl3853 There is a difference between aggressive pilots and arrogant pilots. Holland was the later. I'm alive today because an aggressive pilot threw a C-130 into a very aggressive move that threw off the aim of a Mig-29 pilot just long enough for our CAP to get there and shoot him down. Holland was arrogant and broke the rules way too often. Aggressiveness and brains makes for a great pilot no matter what platform they are on. Stupid and arrogant is wrong no matter what.

[@silntstl]

There is an old aviation saying, "There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots".

[@marshamoore8385]

@@SniperHarry I was there and saw the whole thing! For the record, the other's did NOT want to fly with him. They were afraid he would push the limits of the aircraft. B-52's are a very stable war machine and I love them. Holland should have been grounded long before this happened. He was a likeable guy and his wife was a delightful person, lovely in every way. We were all stunned. Her screams were devastating. How can you comfort someone when they just saw the love of their life get killed, taking the lives of 3 good men with him. It still haunts and sickens me!

[@markgardner4426]

I knew someone at Fairchild AFD that day. They did not see it happen but heard the explosion and emergency vehicles. Sadly, one of the crew started to eject but were too low and too late.

[@holywells]

It is so sad that a lot of these kind of pilots die, and cause others to die, just because they want to try to be as good as Bob Hoover and Chuck Yeager. They don't want to admit that the degree of talent that those two amazing pilots had is given to few....precious few!

[@absolutezero6423]

That wasnt "good" at all. Even I know you dont bank a B-52 90` that close to the ground. The crash was 50' away from a nuclear storage facility. That was some of the worst piloting I have ever seen.

[@Steve_Farwalker]

I watched Bud fly the B52 at the 92 airshow at Fairchild. He was really putting that thing into a steep bank at a low level. I remember the day of the crash. Knocked the power out where I live about 2 miles from the airbase. Was a sad day on top of a sad week with a shooting at the airbase a week before the crash.

[@georgebernard2237]

The saddest part is the sound of small children in the background of the video…

[@dfuher968]

Yeah, and the screaming of women/children in the background as the plane hits the ground. That really got me, coz u just know, thats the family watching.

[@snakerstran9101]

I had a chance to read the main report which covered all the obvious, including crew histories and behaviors. I don't recall much coverage of the B52 flying characteristics in the report, deeper than the obvious. The B52 is considered as a "performance aircraft". Part of its capabilities are low level /terrain following and it is quite impressive in that. But that is all in pitch, wings essentially level. That very pilot was alleged to get a kick out of finding rivets pulled out of the fuselage skin after aggressive flying. But in roll the thing is a real turd. It has wing top spoilers, not ailerons. (All exaggerations): So in a left roll, the left spoilers go up and the left wing goes down. The right wing does nothing. In a aileron plane the left wing goes down and the right wing goes up, making the roll axis the center of the fuselage. The B52 would have the roll axis closer to the high wingtip. Once in a roll, ailerons would "force" both wings to level off, left wing up and right wing down. The B52 has no way to "force" the low wing up. All it can do is "force" the high wing down, the plane essentially drops down to chase the low wing. All that has a cost in altitude. Only so much can be compensated for in wing lift (none at 90 degrees) and airspeed (which was gone). There was much talk about airspeed below minimums, but I'm not sure that they could have come out of that even with good airspeed.

[@cgnicolis]

I saw a documentary on this crash some time ago where they analyzed the footage and came to the conclusion that the starboard wing failed at its attachment point to the fuselage; you can see it around 11:40. They concluded that Holland overtaxed an aged airframe with too tight a turn and that was the final insult.

[@russcarvertruthjedi259]

This is burned into my memory. My ex-wife was stationed at Fairchild Air Force Base, she worked in the billeting office at the survival school. That's the three-story brick building they mention in this video. As with most enlisted personnel, we struggled financially. We had two cars, but one of them did not have reverse. I was getting ready to leave for Montana to visit my family, I was coming to switch cars with her. On one of the passes, the B-52 was approaching the runway from east to west. He flew over my head as I drove along the Frontage Road, he couldn't have been more than fifty feet in the air and the sound was deafening. As you approach the middle of the runway he pulled back on the joystick and the plane went straight up, it came to a stall any tip the nose forward and flew away. I have to admit it's the most impressive thing I've ever seen a large aircraft do, far more impressive than the Jato take off of a C-130 Hercules. I rushed to the billeting office, I quickly told my ex-wife about the incredible Maneuvers this B-52 was doing. She grabbed the keys to the car so we could go out and exchange vehicles. As we were exiting the building going to the parking lot on a sidewalk heading East Northeast, the B-52 was circling overhead. My memory feels like it missed the top of the building by less than 50 feet, but according to this video it was higher than that. A B-52 is so enormous that the altitude was deceptive. The still image that you see of the aircraft just before the crash is literally from the opposite side of where we were standing. The plane went directly over our heads and crashed 300 feet after it passed overhead. They don't show it in the video, but it was a mushroom cloud Fireball, in my nightmares the plane had propellers because it was going so slow. My brain could not fathom jet engines going that slowly. There was a shooting four days earlier at Fairchild Air Force Base Hospital. I was supposed to be there with my son for his vaccinations, but I got into a fight with my ex over who was going to use the good car that day. It's amazing how a second here or a second there can change your life or end it. It's hard for me to be angry with Bud Holland because I was enjoying his performance. But in retrospect, it's just a good thing that the accident happened in practice instead of during the air show. Had it been the next day, that field likely would have had hundreds of spectators. And I have always believed he was trying to buzz the tower like Maverick from Top Gun. Someone painted their names on a static B-52 display near the base exchange and commissary. They ended up getting rid of that static display, perhaps solely to remove his name from said display.

[@kdwaynec]

Wow, the whole incident is like a Ripley's Believe it or Not episode.

[@russcarvertruthjedi259]

@@kdwaynec I concur

[@chaksh]

I have never got teary eyed ever for the many crashes you have documented. I'm not American either. But my heart goes out for the spouses and kids of the officers who watched it unravel

[@justincase5272]

It was indeed devastating.

[@floraposteschild4184]

Captain Holland: he's breaking all the rules of physics -- his way! I'm sorry for his family, but sorrier for the crew members he took with him, and their families. If/when he was ever called out for his behaviour, I'd be interested in hearing what he had to say for himself.

[@fredpearson5204]

He was a lieutenant colonel, not a captain.

[@PabloGonzalez-hv3td]

@@fredpearson5204 Captain of the flight. It's a rank and a position.

[@fredpearson5204]

@@PabloGonzalez-hv3td, were you an Air Force flyer? I was. NO ONE in the Air Force would refer to him as Captain Holland (unless he was actually a captain, which is a huge pay cut from being a lieutenant colonel). In the Air Force, we don't call the lead pilot of a BUFF the captain--he's called the aircraft commander. But thanks for playing, know-it-all civilian.

[@ysmithriley]

@Flora Posteschild PROBABLY NOTHING! He saw himself as INFALLIBLE and INDESTRUCTIBLE.

[@PabloGonzalez-hv3td]

@@fredpearson5204 Man are you guys formal in the USAF. In the RCAF his name would be "Bud" 👀.

[@carlosidelone8064]

Thank you "Flight Channel" for a wonderful recreation of a very sad incident. Beautiful sad music really adds to the emotional impact.

[@arnoldsherrill2585]

What is really terrifying is that he just missed by 50 ft on impact., The nuclear weapons storage facility on the base, something that no one probably thought about in the middle of all that chaos at the time., But I'm sure it made everyone's blood freeze later when they thought about it

[@ivdubgti]

The Nukes are disarmed while in storage. A key element in the nuclear fusion process is removed.

[@arnoldsherrill2585]

I know that but what I was thinking about was in terms of contamination imagine the amount of radioactive material released if the aircraft had hit the storage site the triggers aren't as much the issue as what would have happened if that material had burned hot enough to release into the air because of the fire on impact. And that made me wonder has the Air Force ever tested one of those storage facilities to failure point.

[@S.A.N.503]

On the 27th anniversary of the crash. It's horrible to think that they knew what was coming in a few seconds. And the fact that members of their families watched them die.

[@dennistedder3384]

Good. Darwin takes care of those "best pilots in the squadron." LOL

[@S.A.N.503]

@@dennistedder3384 Natural selection is a beautiful thing lol. It sucks when innocent people get caught up in that process though.

[@johnstudd4245]

One of the crew members did actually eject before the plane hit the ground, which can be seen in the still photo. But he still perished.

[@johnstudd4245]

I need to correct my self. The crew member had STARTED the PROCESS of ejection. The object in the still photo is said to be a hatch cover, or something of that sort, which would have come off before the person actually left the aircraft.

[@jaimhaas5170]

Why such arrogance with other people' lives?

[@brailrice]

Because some people are just azzholes.

[@jaimhaas5170]

@@brailrice true that...just spend some time driving and you will come across that pretty damn fast. Thanks for commenting.

[@jaimhaas5170]

@Antonio Perales del Hierro I know what you are saying...our cinema has plenty of it to role model for us.

[@sicooper4230]

@Antonio Perales del Hierro So true and it's so tiresome not even a drop on the head at birth relinquishes it.

[@williamparker1085]

because it was allowed by other incompetents who hopefully got sued and kicked out

[@pinebarrenpatriot8289]

It's amazing that huge B-52 can even make those tight turn maneuvers. It's must of been horrifying being stuck in that left turn position and not being able to level off.

[@Frip36]

12:02. "...but fortunately, there were no ground casualties." Thanks for letting us know that that's a good thing.

[@thecw301]

Bud Holland was a hotdogger who liked to take things to the limit. Unfortunately, he took others with him.

[@singaporesling679]

There are old pilots. There are bold pilots. But never any old bold pilots.

[@thecw301]

@@singaporesling679 Precisely.

[@label1877]

Imagine being on your final flight, your family is there for you and this occurs.

[@nickh5081]

@@singaporesling679 I disagree. Old bold pilots are rare, but they are usually the ones that in combat come out with all the victories. It started in WW1 - if you didn't get shot down or crash early, you became a veteran and ended up with dozens of kills under your belt. I know Billy Bishop was about as reckless as they come and he was the third highest ace of the War and was only in the air for 16 months before they sent him home.

[@paulsuprono7225]

@@singaporesling679 Yeah . . . they usually result in becoming DEAD ! 💀

[@CobaltBob]

If the pilot had a spirit animal it must surely have been an ass.

[@NoBootyBeauty]

😂 Damn!!!

[@witheeeeeerx]

😂😂😂

[@annferguson3113]

Hey!!! That’s disrespectful to the ass!!!

[@JosephKulik2016]

Dear CobaltBob: With this guy's long record of "stunt flying", everyone who flew with him was an "ass" or even worse. It's not just the USAF who let him continue flying, but every crew member who agreed to fly with after his reputation went south. It would've taken just a few pilots to "mutiny" and dig in their heels to expose this sick man for who he was. I really can't see it coming to a court martial once his reckless record became public. Instead those fellow pilots were happy to play Russian Roulette with their lives every time they got on the same airplane with this delusional man. ... [e-mail]

[@qhviananan-laul5159]

Or the ground hog

[@threeer02]

These are alternatively captivating and heartbreaking to watch. The level of detail is eerie and makes the video all the more realistic (and chilling).

[@richardkev3077]

🤣😂🤣. When I was in the Air Force, “BUFF” meant something a little different!

[@seamusoreilly804]

It certainly was; but Big Ugly Fat F****r was only for our consumption :)

[@Astronut54]

His hotdogging ego let him think he could fly a bomber like a fighter.

[@viperbot5311]

Slam your feet against the wall

[@donnabaardsen5372]

I never cease to be amazed at how real these re-enactments are! Well done!

[@steveb9151]

Well done....except please don't use all caps when setting your text. Tiresome to read. Thanks.

[@d1d4ct85]

Microsoft flight simulator

[@seltaeb3302]

It's always sunny in his planet!

[@HunterPeale]

the takeoffs are all wrong....those 2 planes both take off at a low, slow climb rate. i grew up across Lake Worth from Carswell AFB, watched them day in and day out for over 30 years. i miss them

[@ronaldapger2875]

the crash was actual footage taken at the scene of the crash. its not animated

[@katm5903]

This is my favorite plane, it always amazes me to see it in the air. So sad for the families watching, especially for the retiring officer.

[@lorenzomaximo1818]

A man's got to know his airplane's limitations.

[@kristita_888]

Hearing the screams as the plane crashed was heart-rending...knowing that was the family and friends of a crew member, supposed to be there to celebrate a final flight. I cannot imagine. 💔

[@blakjack3053]

...was indeed a final flight

[@jamesruddy9264]

It doesn't get any more final than that.

[@g2macs]

The people that he took with him were the ones who were supposed to stop his antics, google up the full story, it's beyond crazy.

[@SniperHarry]

Thank you. It truly is. That plane should not have flown that day. Holland was not even, by regs, allowed to fly that day. A foul up from the ground up!

[@mdb831]

yeah he deliberately killed them in this so called accident.

[@BrigidSamhain]

Something fishy here

[@SniperHarry]

@@mdb831 he was arrogant fool, but I don't think he did it on purpose. He wouldn't have done that.

[@johnford5728]

I was going fishing that day on the Columbia river. As I was driving by FAB, I noticed a B-52 at a very odd angle not far above the ground. I knew that something is had to be wrong, I pulled over down the road and called a relative who was retired from FAB.he said that he did not hear anything on the news about it yet, then, it came on the news, and he was shocked.

[@retiredat44]

While working on the flightline I watched B52 at Grand Forks AFB take off then turn 90 degrees sideways to the right side, after it had just lifted up to about 500 feet.... he somehow pulled it out of that and the colonel I was with was freaking too and ran off to go find someone... I have seen quite of few incidents, but that one was one of the craziest... I hated going to crash sites...

[@GiftsbyChosen]

Imagine having a farewell event on the ground, not knowing THAT, is EXACTLY what they were watching when this plane was flying over😲😲 My heart goes out to the photographer, and Airman who captured the final moments. I know that probably bothered them😔😔 I remember growing up watching these airshows because my parents were in the Air force. It really was the coolest thing ever to see!!

[@ron828]

No matter how tech advanced is your human-made aircraft, the reckless air maneuvers that try to break gravity laws of physics are reserved only to UFOs.

[@qhviananan-laul5159]

The reckless behavior is always accepted and tolerable of the passengers on your flight simulator.

[@longwindingroad]

Your saying there's not a hotshot alien pilot out there who's never crashed a UFO ? It got its flying saucer license revoked.

[@waldothudpucker3240]

@@longwindingroad I've seen real birds (as in hatched from eggs) shoot missed approaches and even have landing accidents. If it can happen to them (the born flyers) then humans need to be able to work a little harder at it (it's called self-discipline).

[@JamesDavis-dx1lm]

I was stationed at FAFB (89 - 94) with the 92d Comm Squadron. One of my coworkers said they tapped in to the hotline to Offutt AFB (ACC) and heard the Wing Commander being very emotional, which is understandable. This would have been a bigger story nationally, along with the hospital shooting, but the OJ car chase had happened a week earlier. It drowned out all other news stories at the time.

[@bobsnyder3309]

Holland was about to be grounded for reckless flying. This was a suicide. Sadly he took 3 people with him. One being my former squadron commander.

[@justincase5272]

Sorry to hear of it, Bob. He took my squadron commanded and my opso. I know the feeling. To The Three Who Were Bold! May they rest in peace.

[@loosemoose9799]

I am not a pilot, but my oldest son is retired pilot and told me many things about flying. When I saw the B-52 behind the KC 135, I wondered for the reason he didn't apply power and climb out, go around and then do the touch and go when the runway was clear. After reading the explanations, I learned the reason. He was a hot dog and no one made any effort to clip his wings.

[@rossbrown6641]

Hot dogs are generally eaten, and usually don't take many lives.

[@loosemoose9799]

@@rossbrown6641 I have seen the video several times and I still become anxious knowing what is going to happen. I lived near an air force base and saw some near misses and one crash. It was a stomach churning event. The pilot lived. The crash was caused by the pilot doing hot dog touch and go maneuvers.

[@pjsisseck915]

At the time, there was a large empty field just to the east of the base. My daughter, who was nine, was out with some friends, riding bikes. They saw the aircraft come in low, and disappear over a small rise. They heard, but did not see, the crash. They saw the fire ball. I got home about an hour and a half later, and there was still black smoke billowing.

[@chrisnstar]

My dad was a fighter pilot for USAF during the Korean war years. Then in 1954 he joined TWA and flew for them for more than 30 years. My youngest brother was in the USAF during the first gulf war and flew tankers. He joined FedEx after the air force. My dad often gave us the warning his flight instructor gave him. "You can't live long enough to make all the mistakes yourself." My dad took his job quite seriously and followed the flight rules. He would have refused to fly with someone like Holland..

[@KONAMAN100]

The point of no return. The power cables. The shock. The screams. The explosion. The flight channel video. How terrible was this event for those families and colleagues. Haunting.

[@norrisschultz124]

The last “F” was not for fella 😂

[@GemmaLB]

Yeah I wondered about that!

[@fubarmodelyard1392]

Only in polite society

[@TesterAnimal1]

Obv.

[@rosanneshinkle4133]

And the first F is not for fat

[@patriot9455]

Read Dan Brown's books

[@jaimhaas5170]

The Friends and Family watching is incredibly sad.

[@grmpEqweer]

Heartbreaking.

[@CassassinCatto]

I feel sorry in particular for Mrs. Holland, she must have thought "I told him horsing around would kill him."

[@Agent44996]

It reminds me of Christa McAuliffe's parents watching as the Challenger space shuttle exploded in front of them. Very sad to see their confused and unsure reactions as they try to take in the fact that their daughter just died.

[@brianlanders5306]

@@CassassinCatto : She wouldn't know, because every mission is classified, unless she overheard one of the other pilots complain about his flying.

[@flutepilot]

One of the men on that flight was doing his last flight before retirement. That screaming is primarily his family

[@davkenrem]

I would love to hear the cockpit voice data recorder and see what his crew has to say to him when they realize he has killed them.

[@glamdolly30]

Sadly they didn't have enough time left alive, to adequately insult that jackass! Have to say, they knew Holland's reputation - why the hell did they agree to get on board a plane with him at the controls??? The guy was out of control and bound to kill someday, precisely due to spineless conduct by all the colleagues and bosses who failed to confront him.

[@MrCandK5]

It's sad to know the guy who saved the another kids life by refusing to let him ride with the dangerous pilot and switched places with him that day, tried to eject himself but was just a moment too late.

[@andyhuwe8462]

This shit is designed to bomb innocent kids!

[@dukeford8893]

USAF Colonels aren't "kids".

[@bookwormstephie]

My husband and I were enroute to Fairchild from our previous base when we heard about the hospital shooting and the B52 crash. We got there just 2 days after the crash. It was utter desolation on base for weeks. People were in total shock. We've never felt so sorry for everyone upon arriving at a new assignment. We began to hear nearly immediately about the bad reputation of the pilot 'Bud' which only made the entire tragedy so much worse for everyone. It was preventable. So so tragic for them. It pretty much ruined our first 6 months there, as 'outsiders.'

[@KC_Smooth]

Ahh I remember this story. The copilot warned his superiors the pilot was dangerous and they did nothing about it. A damn shame.

[@donnabaardsen5372]

They were equally foolish to fly with him. I would have flat out refused.

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

He probably played golf with his superiors.

[@richardfetzer4933]

Getting more of what's tolerated said it. The circumstance of so much family watching, plus losing experienced personell, and an unreplacable aircraft, the whole thing just sucked really bad. And for what ? Hard thing for me to watch. Perhaps when witnessing maneuvers a person should be mindful that not seeing an incident is also witnessing successful discipline. And a reminder that most failures only take a moment, but man, the permeating effects can last for such a long time for personell, their familys, and our country. I have a ding in my wing about that particular incident.

[@williampotter2098]

@@donnabaardsen5372 This is the military, not McDonald's ... A move like that could ruin a man's aviation career ... Sad but true ...

[@RenniaTrayvold]

@@donnabaardsen5372 There's a bit of missing information here, but the co-pilot at the time wasn't his typical co-pilot. McGeehan stepped up in an attempt to protect the crew on any future missions this prick lead. Sadly it didn't do any good in this case. Even more sad is the fact that had they survived this flight, Bud might have finally gotten pulled. There's a bit more to the story and it's incorrect to say that he was never reprimanded. It was just extremely inadequate and came in the form of a verbal reprimand not to do it again. Ones that were never written down. Sadly this failure to document the reprimands cost three other people their lives.

[@RAV1953]

I had a flight instructor advise me to never make "steep turns" at low altitude(s). Very good advice indeed!

[@ryanpark2049]

Certainly wouldn't do it in a B52

[@waltonwarrior7428]

The very sad fact about almost all accidents of this type is that there were numerous warning signs of in-pending disaster that are ignored and cost lives. Very sad. I remember this broadcast on the nightly news. Hard to believe it's been 27 years now.