RF-4C Phantom Jet Crash on Holston Mountain, TN

"From the October 4th, 1976 Elizabethton newspaper, we learn "Two German Air Force officers were killed instantly when the US Air Force reconnaisance jet they were flying crashed into Holston Mountain near here, authorities said. The wreakage was located early Saturday morning just over the the Carter County line where it had broken up badly on impact and was strewn over a wide area. Authorities said the supersonic jet, an RF-4C, also known as a Phantom, was manufactured only recently and carrying highly sophisticated radar and photographic systems in its nose. The jet was said to be on a routine low-level flight from Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter, SC when it disappeared from the Air Force radar around 4PM in the vicinity of Holston Mountain."

Geocache "Phantom in the forest" brings you to the actual crash site where an engine was left to mark the spot.

There is monument along Panhandle Road (at N36°26.793 W82°07.026) in memory of the two pilots, First Lt. Kurt Schnurer (24) and Cadet Werner Michelberger (26), killed in the crash.

The location is reached off Highway TN91 via a steep ten mile drive up Panhandle Road, which is a combination of gravel and asphalt."

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• RF-4C
• Phantom
• Jet
• Fighter
• Plane Crash
• Wreckchasing
• Wreck Chasing
• Wreckage
• Guns & Roses
• Knocking on Heavens Door
• Air Force
• First Lt. Kurt Schnurer
• Cadet Werner Michelberger

[nightwriterou812]

I'm a former Air Force mishap investigator and I'm amazed over the amount of debris (especially the engine turbine blades) left behind by the crash recovery team. As the RF-4C is built specifically for reconnaissance only, this aircraft had no weapons or ammunition aboard which eliminates any risk of finding unexploded ordnance. By the way I grew up in east TN and I remember hearing of this crash although I was just a teenager at the time.

[Willysmb44]

I remember right after this happened. My Uncle was working the TV relay station less than a mile away from the crash site, if they'd gone just a little bit further, they'd have killed him, too. We saw the crash site right after the USAF had picked up the big stuff. You could clearly see where the Phantom came in at a slight angle, cut down all the tops of the trees right toward where it hit right next to the road, bounced about 200 yards, then impact again and exploded.

[atvtrailriders]

We just came across the crash site yesterday. It inspired me to do some research.  Thanks for sharing your experience. We felt blessed to have stumbled upon it.

[BUCHANAN75]

Wow!!! I have been by the marker several times but did not realize all of the debris they left behind. How far off the road is the actual site? I have looked for information on the accident for several years now on the internet but never really came across anything. You did a great job on the video of all the parts.

[MrGAZHD]

I'm staggered all the pieces weren't collected up