916 Starfighter

F-104A "FG-772" (56-0772) Air Force Flight Test Center (Air Force System Command) over mountainous California

F-104A, construction number 183-1060, model 183-93-02, US serial number 56-0772, built by Lockheed
this Starfighter was ready for its first test flight after rolling of the production line on August 19, 1957; it was delivered in 1958 but we have no idea about the exact date
Lockheed F-104A (56-0772) was the 43rd F-104A built, and the ninth of the Block 15 series
after acceptance by the Air Force, it served as a test and support aircraft at the Air Force Flight Test Center (AF System Command) at Edwards AFB, California.
FG-772 crashed shortly after TO from Edwards AFB on July 26, 1958, about 2 miles SE of Rosamond Lake, near Edwards AFB, CA
killing test pilot Iven C. Kincheloe, following loss of engine thrust and unsuccessful ejection. Kincheloe ejected shortly before impact
Capt Iven C. Kincheloe (AFFTC) was on a chase support mission for 56-0735 piloted by Lou Schalk (Lockheed Aircraft California) from Palmdale; impact was 9.5 NM SW from the west end of Rwy 22.

As the two supersonic interceptors began their climb out from the runway, a small control cable deep inside Kincheloe’s fighter failed, allowing the inlet guide vane of the F-104’s
General Electric J79-GE-3 turbojet engine to close. With the suddenly decreased airflow the engine lost power and the airplane started to descend rapidly.
The early F-104 Starfighters had a Stanley Aviation Corporation Type B ejection seat that was catapulted or dropped by gravity from the bottom of the cockpit.
56-0772 was equipped with an improved Stanley Type C ejection seat. With the Starfighter well below 2,000 feet (610 meters), Kincheloe apparently thought that he needed to roll
the airplane inverted before ejecting. This was actually not necessary and delayed his escape.
By the time he had separated from the seat and could open his parachute, he was below 500 feet (152 meters). The parachute did open, but too late. Iven Kincheloe was killed on impact.
His airplane crashed into the desert floor just over 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) from the west end of Runway 22 and was totally destroyed.