Boeing B-52 Stratofortress crash, Feb 3, 1991 (3 killed)
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress accident on February 3, 1991 near Diego Garcia AFB, Diego Garcia Atoll, Chagos Archipelago with 3 fatalities. Cause: An...
- Date: February 3, 1991
- Aircraft: Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
- Location: Diego Garcia AFB, Diego Garcia Atoll, Chagos Archipelago
- Fatalities: 3
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: An electrical fault with a fuel gauge, compounded by crew management and procedural errors, led to fuel starvation and loss of multiple engines. The primary Air Force report was not found, and sources differ on the official attribution.
A B-52G on a Desert Storm sortie from Diego Garcia developed an electrical fault with a main tank fuel gauge, and crew errors compounded the problem. Several engines lost power from fuel starvation while more than 30,000 lb of fuel remained aboard. Three crew bailed out, while three who ejected too late were killed.