File A121-R-60-6939A-12Article 133

60-6939

A-12 · Article 133
Lost9 Jul 1964

No display location
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No photo on fileNo openly licensed photograph of this airframe is in the archive yet. If you took one or know of one, it can be added with your permission.

Record

60-6939
133
A-12
8.3
Not confirmed
Lost
Destroyed

Career

  • Shortest-lived A-12: 10 flights and 8.3 hours
  • The accident was not publicised

How it was lost

Crashed 9 July 1964 on approach to Groom Lake after a Mach 3 check flight when a roll and pitch control component froze and the aircraft rolled uncontrollably at about 500 ft. Lockheed test pilot Bill Park ejected at about 200 ft and was not hurt.

In the chronology

9 Jul 1964Bill Park ejects from Article 133 OXCART
On approach after a Mach 3 check flight, Article 133 (60-6939) began an uncontrollable roll at about 500 feet because a roll and pitch control servo froze. Lockheed test pilot Bill Park ejected at roughly 200 feet and escaped injury, and the accident was kept secret.

Where the record disagrees

Cause wording differs: CIA says a roll and pitch control component froze; Wikipedia (citing Crickmore) says complete hydraulic failure. CIA's Archangel spells the pilot 'Bill Parks' in one passage and 'Bill Park' in another; Lockheed's test pilot was William C. 'Bill' Park.

Sources

  1. Central Intelligence Agency, Center for the Study of Intelligence. Archangel: CIA's Supersonic A-12 Reconnaissance Aircraft (David Robarge, 2nd ed.; includes 'Inventory of A-12s' table, p. 50). Open · Archived · In the register
  2. Wikipedia. Lockheed A-12 (aircraft table and accidents list). Open · Archived · In the register