| German F-104 losses during training at Luke AFB | |||||||
| 42 F-104 were lost during 20 years of training (+ 1 MAP aircraft loss), 22 pilots were killed | |||||||
date |
type |
serial | const/nr |
location |
comments | fate of pilot | |
| 16.04.1965 | F-104G | 62-12312 | 6011 |
Litchfield NAS area - Van Buren & Central | failed to latch canopy - loss of control after take-off - MAP aircraft | pilot was killed - no ejection. | |
| 13.05.1965 | F-104G | 63-13236 | 2018 |
Gila Bend Range - Range 6 | gunnery dive angle too steep, recovery too low, ground contact (CFIT); 4518 CCTS | US IP was killed - no apparent attempt to eject. | |
| 02.07.1965 | F-104G | 63-13230 | 2011 |
near Luke AFB - built-over by golf course | flight control system malfunction on take-off, dart tow, pitch-up near vertical; 4518 CCTS | US IP killed - ejected too low, no seat separation. | |
| 06.07.1965 | F-104G | 63-13248 | 2032 |
Gila Bend Range - Range 6 | flight control system malfunction - loss of control during gunnery; operated by 4512 CCTS | pilot killed - ejected too low (200 feet AGL in inverted dive). | |
| 03.03.1966 | F-104G | 63-13270 | 8003 |
Aguila - Harquehala Mountains | fuel control malfunction during night solo flight, engine failure; operated by 4443 CCTS | pilot ok - safe ejection. | |
| 27.05.1966 | F-104G | 63-13259 | 2010 |
Gila Bend Range - Range 2 | engine failure due to open nozzle, caused by loss of oil pressure; operated by 4443 CCTS | pilot ejected safely. | |
| 13.07.1966 | F-104G | 63-13277 | 9004 |
Gila Bend Range - South Tac Airfield | impacted ground during weapons delivery (CFIT); operated by 4443 CCTS | pilot was killed - no apparent attempt to eject. | |
| 15.09.1966 | F-104G | 63-13261 | 8196 |
near Luke AFB - Litchfield Rd & Olive | asymmetrical flap, loss of control after take-off | pilot ok - safe ejection. | |
| 16.09.1966 | F-104G | 63-13241 | 2024 |
near Luke AFB - Sun City West | engine failure due to fuel control failure shortly after take-off; operated by 4518 CCTS | US IP was killed - ejected but got hit by his own seat. | |
| 24.10.1967 | F-104G | 63-13239 | 2022 |
60 km SE of Ajo near Pisinimo | collided with 63-13267 during formation rejoin; operated by 4518 CCTS | pilot ok - safe ejection. | |
| 24.10.1967 | F-104G | 63-13267 | 2096 |
60 km SE of Ajo near Pisinimo | collided with 63-13239 during formation rejoin; operated by 4518 CCTS | pilot ok - safe ejection. | |
| 02.08.1968 | F-104G | 65-12749 | 8064 |
Gila Bend Range - Range 4 | loss of control after pitch-up (low pull-out) during weapons delivery; 4518 CCTS | pilot was killed - ejected too low, chute did not deploy. | |
| 05.08.1968 | F-104G | 63-13274 | 9001 |
Luke AFB - landing pattern | asymmetrical flaps, loss of aircraft control; operated by 4512 CCTS | pilot was ok - safe ejection. | |
| 05.03.1969 | F-104G | 65-12746 | 8021 |
Gila Bend Range - Range 3 | loss of right wing and loss of control during pull-up from weapons delivery; 4518 CCTS | pilot was killed - ejection attempted (canopy separated). | |
| 25.03.1969 | F-104G | 67-14891 | 8191 |
near Luke AFB - Butler Drive, farm field | asymmetrical flaps on landing, controlled ejection after go-around; 4512 CCTS | US IP ok - ejected but suffered major injuries. | |
| 22.05.1969 | F-104G | 63-13268 | 2097 |
near Lake Havasu City | lost control after a barrel roll on first solo, ground contact (CFIT); 4512 CCTS | pilot killed - unknown if ejection was attempted. | |
| 08.07.1969 | TF-104G | 66-13623 | 5934 |
Gila Bend Range 1 - Growler Mountains | fuel control malfunction, engine failure during weapons delivery; operated by 4512 CCTS | US IP ok, student pilot was killed by his ejection seat. | |
| 11.07.1969 | F-104G | 63-13263 | 2091 |
15 NM NW of Aguila, near Wickenburg, AZ | midair collision with 66-13524 c/n 7120 (which landed safely) during formation rejoin | pilot ok - safe ejection. | |
| 29.10.1969 | TF-104G | 63-8466 | 5773 |
near Ajo, Papago Indian Reservation | engine failure after engine oil problems after a Looping; operated by the 69 TFTS | US IP killed (seat separation failed), student ejected safely. | |
| 04.02.1970 | F-104G | 63-13246 | 2030 |
near Anegem, 64 km east of Ajo | pilot handling error and loss of control (CFIT); operated that day by the 69 TFTS (FWS) | pilot safely ejected, but injured. | |
| 24.03.1970 | TF-104G | 61-3077 | 5748 |
On base - Luke, rwy 21R | landing gear raised too early doing touch & go, aircraft settled back on Rwy; 418 TFTS | US IP ok, pilot ok. | |
| 08.05.1970 | F-104G | 63-13233 | 2014 |
Gila Bend Range - Range 3 | loss of control after low recovery during weapon delivery; operated by the 418 TFTS | German IP killed - ejected too low. | |
| 22.10.1970 | F-104G | 67-14886 | 7023 |
Gila Bend Range - Air to Air Range | engine failure during A/A gunnery due to FOD; operated by the 69 TFTS | US IP safe ejection. | |
| 08.11.1971 | F-104G | 63-13247 | 2031 |
Gila Bend Range - Range 2 Area B | gun malfunction caused compressor stall and engine failure; operated by the 69 TFTS | US IP safe ejection. | |
| 22.06.1972 | F-104G | 65-12752 | 8069 |
near Aguila | lost of control during acrobatics (Loop) after entering clouds | pilot killed - unknown if ejection was attempted. | |
| 01.12.1972 | F-104G | 67-14888 | 7007 |
Gila Bend Range - Range 1 | loss of control during tactical weapons delivery, operated by the 418 TFTS (FWS) | pilot was killed - ejected to late. | |
| 05.04.1973 | F-104G | 67-14893 | 8177 |
Gila Bend Range - Range 1 | loss of aircraft control during weapons delivery (CFIT), operated by 418 TFTS (FWS) | US IP killed - no apparent attempt to eject | |
| 29.08.1973 | F-104G | 63-13276 | 9003 |
Hickiwan, near Ajo | collision with 65-12754 c/n 8077 during formation rejoin, operated by 418 TFTS (FWS) | pilot killed - ejection seat system malfunction. | |
| 29.08.1973 | F-104G | 65-12754 | 8077 |
Hickiwan, near Ajo | collision with 63-13276 c/n 9003 during formation rejoin, operated by 418 TFTS (FWS) | pilot killed - ejection seat system malfunction. | |
| 27.03.1974 | TF-104G | 63-8453 | 5757 |
on base -Luke, RWY 03L | landing mishap after FCF, anti-skid & nose-wheel steering failed, tire blew; DBR | both US pilots okay. | |
| 14.01.1975 | TF-104G | 61-3081 | 5752 |
Gila Bend Range - Air to Air Range | hydraulic failure during ACM, was unable to pull out of the dive with one hydraulic system | both pilots fatal injured, supersonic ejection. | |
| 18.02.1975 | F-104G | 63-13275 | 9002 |
Gila Bend Range - near Childs Mountain | asymmetrical flight condition during weapons delivery, ground contact | pilot fatal injured, no attempt to eject | |
| 01.07.1975 | F-104G | 63-13231 | 2012 |
Luke AFB, Rwy 03R | engine failure on T/O (FOD), aircraft burned, DBR; operated by the 69 TFTS | US IPwas fatal injured, no apparent attempt to eject. | |
| 09.07.1975 | F-104G | 63-13256 | 2040 |
13 NM NNW of Luke AFB, near HWY 60 | engine failure after T/O on a test flight after engine change; operated by the 69 TFTS. | US IP okay - safe ejection. | |
| 30.01.1976 | F-104G | 63-13258 | 2042 |
at Ash Fork (Seligman), near Flagstaff | uncommanded pitch down - loss of aircraft control; operated by the 418 TFTS | pilot okay - safe ejection. | |
| 06.02.1976 | TF-104G | 66-13624 | 5935 |
Gila Bend Range - Range 4 | loss of control after right leading edge flap separated during strafe event, ops 418 TFTS | GAF IP ok, pilot ok. | |
| 10.03.1976 | F-104G | 63-13237 | 2020 |
Gila Bend Range - East Tac | ricochet damage, engine failure; operated that day by the 418 TFTS | pilot okay - safe ejection. | |
| 18.03.1976 | F-104G | 66-13524 | 7120 |
Gila Bend Range - East Tac | impacted ground during weapons delivery (CFIT); operated by the 418 TFTS | pilot was killed - no ejection was made. | |
| 11.07.1977 | F-104G | 63-13232 | 2013 |
Gila Bend Range - Gila Bend Aux Air Field | compressor stall, engine failure during gunnery; operated by the 69 TFTS | US IP okay - safe ejection. | |
| 20.06.1978 | TF-104G | 66-13626 | 5937 |
Gila Bend Range - East Tac Range | throttle control system malfunction (broken throttle linkage); operated by the 69 TFTS | US IP ok, pilot ok. | |
| 06.07.1979 | F-104G | 63-13250 | 2034 |
Gila Bend Range - accident report is lost | fuel control malfunction, engine failure; operated by the 69 TFTS | pilot okay - safe ejection. | |
| 14.07.1981 | TF-104G | 63-8459 | 5763 |
Near Aguila | throttle control system malfunction (broken throttle linkage) with Electrical fire; 69 TFTS | US IP ok, pilot ok. | |
| 04.08.1981 | F-104G | 66-13525 | 7132 |
Gila Bend Range - Range 4 | Ricochet damage, engine failure during weapons delivery; operated by the 69 TFTS | pilot okay - safe ejection. | |
| To our best knowledge!!! Given information is based on best available references, any proven correction is welcome! | |||||||
Any contribution or proven correction is highly welcome, please contact
the webmaster  |
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| compiled by: Christopher Baird, Hubert Peitzmeier, Harry Prins | |||||||
| references: USAF accident/incident reports; "916 Starfighter" book by Fischbach; "Deutsche Starfighter" book by Klaus Kropf; "F-40" books; International F-104 Society Zipper magazines | |||||||
| update @ May 13, 2022 | |||||||