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1977 Israeli Air Force Sikorsky CH-53 crash

Coordinates: 31°55′56″N 35°26′11″E / 31.9321°N 35.4365°E / 31.9321; 35.4365
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1977 Israeli Air Force Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion crash
An Israeli Air Force Sikorsky CH-53, similar to the aircraft involved
Accident
Date10 May 1977 (1977-05-10)
SummaryControlled flight into terrain
SiteJordan Valley
Aircraft
Aircraft typeSikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion
Operator Israeli Air Force
Registration960
Occupants54
Passengers44
Crew10
Fatalities54
Survivors0

On 10 May 1977, an Israeli Air Force Sikorsky CH-53 Yas'ur helicopter crashed during an exercise in the Jordan Valley, killing all 54 on board (including the 10-member flight crew). The disaster became known as Ason HaNun-Daled, or "Disaster of the 54".[1]

It is still the worst single-aircraft accident in Israel. The crash site was in the West Bank, about 5 kilometers north of Jericho in a wadi. The cause was determined to be flying at too low an altitude during the dark, which caused the helicopter to strike a hill, crash and explode (CFIT, Controlled flight into terrain).

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Copter Falls Killing 54 Israeli Soldiers." Associated Press at The Evening Independent, reposted at Google News. May 11, 1977. Retrieved on July 4, 2009.
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31°55′56″N 35°26′11″E / 31.9321°N 35.4365°E / 31.9321; 35.4365