Military jet crashes into house, Indianapolis, Indiana 1960

Please note, the purpose of my uploading this video is for historical purposes only. It is not here for sensationalism. Insensitive remarks will be removed.

In 1960, on the west side of Indianapolis, a fighter jet crash landed into a home in the Ben Davis area, killing the pilots on board. It was a gloomy day, and my dad who graduated high school not long before this lived a few blocks away from the scene. He grabbed his 8mm movie camera and made his way down to the crash site.

He arrived as the police and fire departments arrived on the scene. In fact he doesn't recall any military personel arriving until later. But, he started shooting any way, right up on the property line. You could see the tail of the plane sticking out of the house, and investigators on the scene.

I only saw the film once, maybe twice, around 1985 or so. One thing that stood out was just how close he was able to get to the crash. Today the whole area would have been evacuated and you'd probably be lucky to get within a mile of it.




The other day he handed the film to me. So I had it dubbed over to DVD and then uploaded here.

I tried to do some searches on line to see if there was any information on this. Nothing. Found the one about the military jet that crashed into the Ramada Inn at the airport in 87. And the military cargo plane that hit the hotel and restuarant in Evansville, as well some other commercial jet crashes, but no mention anywhere of this.. I find that very curious. But there is a still photograph of this accident on display at the Indiana State Police Museum at 21st and Post Road, Indianapolis. As far as I know, this is the only footage of it that exists...

EDIT

Just recently, this video was posted on the Facebook page Old Indianapolis Businesses of the Past, and it generated some instrest. From it, I received a PFD file from a member who had contacts with the Air Force.

Basically it was a T-33 trainer aircraft (front and back seater- pilot and co-pilot/trainee) The incident occurred 16 March 1960. It was on a flight from
LG Hanscom Field, Bedford,Mass. to Campbell AFB, Hopkinsville, KY.
Front seater was Major D. Cooper; rear seater was 1st LT L. Cogdill. Sadly, neither survived. A lot of things contributed to the accident. They were low on fuel, in which they did run out. The pilots did not receive proper assistance from Gobblin GCI Control, . Also the pilot failed to declare an emergency. There was radio interference from different channels causing some confusion. Also wrong information was given to the pilot from the Indianapolis Tower. To quote the report "Control of the aircraft from Indianapolis Approach Control was completely inadequate and unprofessional in manner. The erronous positions relative to the airport given to 70556 would have been a definate tendancy to instill distrust in the pilot as to the accuracy and dependabilty of the information given to him." Along with that the weather was marginal, questioning the judgment of the pilot for filing an extended flight plan. According the report, their destination to Fort Campbell should never have been filed. Finally, the pilots waited too long to eject. The angle of the jet caused the ejectory to be non successful

The footage is raw, show signs of fading and washed out, and may be considered graphic as you will see the dead pilots in it (under tarps) Also the last few seconds are scenes from the Shrine Circus. Those I can't seem to edit out from the video at this point

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Military
• Jet Crash
• Indianapolis
• Old ambulances
• Old fire trucks
• Air Force
• Accident

[bftwindy]

address her in indy?? i work over by airport would not mind going thru area, i know hotel hit by military aircraft back in early 80's is a parking lot now.

[indychauffuer]

@bftwindy It was over on Vinewood where the crash happened. From what I am told, I-465 now occupies the area of where this happened

[indychauffuer]

One thing I think that should be taken in consideration when reading the crash report, planes fly in marginal weather all the time. Only when plane does not make it safely do investigators question whether or not the pilot should have taken off or chosen the flight plan

[flib0110]

A boyhood chum in AK was 1 of 2 survivors in a crash at McChord AFB. The account I recently read from an eyewitness at that 1952 scene eerily recalled what I saw from my view on Minn. St. that day. Do you have the date? It must have been about Feb. (just catchers & pitchers in the gym at BDHS) Yes, I'd like to see the photo. Do you need my email, or can you post it? Thanks.

[indychauffuer]

@flib0110

sorry for my delay. I can email it if you like :)

[philbrooks66]

Holy cow- I have never heard of this! I was searching the internet for a plane crash near Weir Cook in the late 60s (P-51, I'm told), and ran across this. indychauffuer, I would be very interested in seeing the reports, etc. I live in Brownsburg. I'm sorry about your friend...

[indychauffuer]

@tecalla1

First of all, thank you for the service you and your fellow airmen have given to our country to keep us safe, and secondly, I am sorry for the loss of Lloyd, even if it was 50 years ago. If intrested, I now have the crash reports and final findings from the accident, along with the news articles from the Indianapolis News. I can email those to you, or, if you are on facebook, they are on the page "Old Indianapolis Businesses of the Past"

[tecalla1]

@indychauffuer --The pilot in the rear seat was a classmate of mine (Aviation Cadet pilot training) We graduated from training on Apr 14, 1954. Lloyd was the ranking cadet in our class. (Aviation Cadet Colonel. We were all former enlisted who qualified for flight training. We were commissioned 2/Lt upon graduation. We never knew the deatils of Lloyds crash He was a great guy and his loss was a real blow to all of us. Thanks Tom Callaghan. LtCol USAF retired

[indychauffuer]

@flib0110

You are correct. The tail was sticking out. I have a photo of a photo I took at the Indiana State Police Museum of this accident. Its black and white, however, if you'd like to see it I can email a copy to you

[flib0110]

Thanks for the response. May be my imagination, but I remember the tail ass'y protruding fm the house, The guy who bounced into the shed was still alive, but didn't make it. Foggy, half dark. Tough to see; I've always been an airplane nut & pilot since 1971. Aerobatic skill? No help. It's said there are those walk out to the airplane knowing that this will be their last flight, & those who walk out the the airplane not knowing that this will be their last flight. May both gentlemen R.I.P.