List of Harrier Jump Jet family losses

This is a list of Harrier Jump Jet family aircraft losses.

Main articles: Hawker Siddeley P.1127, Hawker Siddeley Harrier, British Aerospace Sea Harrier, McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II, British Aerospace Harrier II, and Harrier Jump Jet

Harrier/Sea Harrier/Harrier II
An AV-8S Matador flies over the Spanish aircraft carrier Dédalo.

Crashes by decade
The Hawker P.1127, predecessor of the Harrier

1960s
14 December 1961
P.1127 XP836 was lost after a cold nozzle detached in flight and the aircraft became uncontrollable during approach to normal horizontal landing. Pilot Bill Bedford ejected unhurt. Aircraft hit a barn and caught fire.[1]
12 July 1961
P.1127 XP976 flown by Hugh Merewether was damaged after a main bearing failure and resultant fire warning caused an emergency landing to be made at RAF Tangmere. Landing heavily, the aircraft burst into flames. Merewether got out unhurt but the aircraft was badly damaged. Bearing failure caused compressor disintegration, the fragments creating a hole in the compressor casing.[1]
16 June 1963
P.1127 XP831 crashed while flying at low speed and low altitude during a display at the 1963 Paris Air Show, pilot Bill Bedford climbed from the aircraft unhurt. Crash was caused by a speck of dust in a nozzle-control air motor which caused momentary failure of the nozzles to follow pilot's commands while the aircraft was being mostly supported by engine lift.[2]
1 April 1965
Tripartite Evaluation Squadron Kestrel FGA1 (XS696) crashed on take-off at RAF West Raynham, but did not catch fire, although blanketed by foam as a precaution.[3][4]
21 September 1967
Tripartite Evaluation Squadron Kestrel FGA1 (XS693) was abandoned 2 miles (3.2 km) from Boscombe Down.[4]
27 January 1969
RAF GR3 (XV743) was abandoned over Dunsfold Aerodrome.[5]
4 June 1969
Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) T2 (XW174) abandoned after loss of power near Boscombe Down.[5]

1970s
An RAF Harrier GR3 on display at Bletchley Park, England

Spanish operated Harriers
11 June 1976
EAV-8A "Matador" serial 008-2 crashed at Whiteman AFB (USA) on take-off, pilot ejected.

UK operated Harriers
11 June 1970
A&AEE T2 (XW264) flew into ground after loss of control near Boscombe Down.[6]
6 October 1970
RAF GR1 (XV796) abandoned after engine flameout at Ouston.[5]
23 April 1971
RAF GR1 (XV798) abandoned after loss of control in hover at RAF Wildenrath.[5]
3 August 1971
RAF GR1 (XV803) flew into ground following nozzle failure, RAF Wattisham.[5]
12 January 1972
RAF GR1 (XW918) of No. 4 Squadron crashed following loss of control in cloud at Tuschenbroich, West Germany.[7]
21 March 1972
RAF GR1 (XV802) flew into ground near Stadtoldendorf, West Germany.[5]
26 April 1972
RAF GR1 (XV749) abandoned off the Lincolnshire coast following a bird strike.[5]
1 May 1972
RAF GR1 (XV777) abandoned during transition from hover at RAF Wittering.[5]
4 May 1972
RAF GR1 (XV794) abandoned after bird strike near Hutten, West Germany.[5]
20 June 1972
RAF GR3 (XW920) of No. 3 Squadron abandoned following a loss of engine power over Cape Frasca ranges, Sardinia.[7]
27 June 1972
RAF GR1 (XV780) abandoned after engine fire near RAF Gutersloh, West Germany.[5]
12 September 1972
RAF GR1 (XV799) flew into hill near Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland.[5]
9 July 1973
RAF GR3 (XV792) abandoned after bird strike at RAF Wildenrath.[5]
30 July 1973
RAF GR3 (XV805) abandoned after bird strike near Coesfeld, West Germany.[5]
6 September 1973
RAF GR3 (XV750) abandoned over Germany after engine failure.[5]
24 September 1973
RAF GR1 (XV739) of 1 Squadron was abandoned over Cyprus.[5]
23 January 1974
RAF GR3 (XV797) rolled out of control due to jammed flap and abandoned over Vredepeel, Netherlands.[5]
26 March 1974
RAF GR3 (XV785) abandoned during landing at RAF Wildenrath, West Germany.[5]
16 May 1974
RAF GR3 (XV800) damaged beyond repair following bird strike at RAF Wildenrath.[5]
1 December 1975
RAF GR3 (XV788) abandoned following bird strike over Belize.[5]
19 January 1976
Two RAF GR3s (XV745 and XV754) collided and crashed in Cheshire, England.[5]
12 March 1976
RAF GR3 (XV746) flew into mountain in Norway.[5]
6 July 1976
RAF GR3 (XW770) abandoned after engine flame out near Borken, West Germany.[8]
15 December 1978
RAF GR3 (XV801) abandoned after loss of control over West Germany.[5]
18 July 1979
RAF GR3 (XZ137) of No. 4 Squadron hit a house at Wissmar, West Germany.[9]
21 September 1979
Two RAF GR3s (XV756 and XZ128) collided over Wisbech, Isle of Ely, Cambridgeshire. One plane crashed in the town killing three civilians.[5][10]
4 October 1979
RAF GR3 (XW766) abandoned after control loss and crashed into wood near Ravensberg, West Germany.[8]
8 November 1979
RAF GR3 (XV756) abandoned after being hit by ricochet over Holbeach ranges.[5]

US operated Harriers
18 June 1971
A USMC pilot became the first US serviceman killed in a Harrier crash when his AV-8A aircraft crashed into the Chesapeake Bay during a test flight.[11]
15 June 1974
A USMC pilot was killed at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina when his AV-8A Harrier rolled during a landing.[11]
27 July 1974
A USMC pilot was injured during an air show at General Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee, Wi when his AV-8A Harrier crashed during a hovering demonstration causing his aircraft to burst into flames.[12]
9 October 1974
A USMC pilot was killed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina when the landing gear of his AV-8A Harrier collapsed upon landing causing his aircraft to skid off the runway and burst into flames.[11]
13 February 1975
A USMC pilot was killed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina when his AV-8A Harrier rolled and crashed during a vertical takeoff.[11]
3 July 1975
A USMC pilot was killed near Bennetsville, SC when his AV-8A Harrier crashed while trying to help locate a comrade who had just successfully ejected from his own AV-8A which had lost power because of a mechanical problem.[11]
16 December 1976
A USMC pilot was killed when his AV-8A Harrier crashed into the Sea of Japan during a training flight.[11]
6 April 1977
A USMC pilot was killed at Beaufort, SC as he set out to practice a vertical takeoff while heavy crosswinds battered the runway.[11]
12 July 1977
A USMC pilot was killed when his AV-8A crashed into the Atlantic during a demonstration for several high-ranking government officials, including Navy Secretary Graham Claytor Jr. and Bert Lance, then director of the Office of Management and Budget who were observing from the carrier Saratoga.[11]
26 July 1977
A USMC pilot was killed when his AV-8A Harrier descended into the Bay River in the rain and exploded.[11]
6 September 1977
A USMC pilot was killed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada when his AV-8A Harrier flew into a mountainside during a bombing training run.[11]
2 October 1978
A USMC pilot was killed when his AV-8A Harrier crashed in the Chocolate Mountains east of California's Salton Sea during a bombing training run. He flew into the ground inverted.[11]
10 October 1979
At EAF Twentynine Palms, MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, lifted off about 100' and dropped into the aluminium runway; pilot went down with aircraft but suffered only a broken nose.
12 October 1979
A USMC pilot was killed during a training flight over the Atlantic just off Cape Lookout, NC. His AV-8A Harrier hit the water at a steep angle and high speed.[11]

1980s
Sea Harriers FA.2 on the deck of HMS Illustrious in the Persian Gulf

Indian operated Harriers
4 May 1988
Indian Navy Sea Harrier (IN601) crashed near Goa, pilot killed.
27 June 1988
Indian Navy Harrier T60 (IN652) crashed crew ejected.

Spanish operated Harriers
28 May 1980
EAV-8A "Matador" serial 008-1 crashed, unreported location.
22 October 1984
AV-8S "Matador", unreported serial, crashed at Rota, pilot ejected.
29 July 1986
AV-8S "Matador", unreported serial, crashed at Rota.
18 December 1989
EAV-8B-9 "Matador", serial 01-901, crashed, unreported location.

UK operated Harriers
12 March 1980
RAF GR3 (XW765) abandoned after bird strike over Dyfed, Wales.[8]
14 October 1980
RAF GR3 (XV792) rolled over and crashed while in the hover at RAF Gutersloh due to fatigue in a control rod from the starboard aileron to the starboard roll reaction shutter. Pilot ejected at ~100 ft with aircraft in 80–90-degree of bank but seat was outside its performance envelope.[5][13]
28 October 1980
RAF GR3 (XV761) abandoned over Germany following bird strike.[5]
1 December 1980
RN Sea Harrier (XZ454) hit ramp of HMS Invincible with starboard outrigger after attempting to hover with full fuel carrying BBC cameras. Pilot ejected safely.
22 May 1981
RAF GR3 (XZ139) of No. 3 Squadron abandoned near Sogel, West Germany after tailplane control rod disconnected.[9]
26 May 1981
RAF GR3 (XW923) of No. 1417 Flight crashed into trees after failing to gain height during vertical takeoff at Belize Airport.[7]
14 July 1981
RAF GR3 (XV807) flew into tree near Georgeville, Belize.[5]
12 February 1982
RAF GR3 (XZ973) of 233 Operational Conversion Unit flew into hill near Corwen, Wales.[14]
See also: Falklands War
4 May 1982
Royal Navy Sea Harrier FRS1 (XZ450) crashed after being hit by 35mm cannon shells during a photographic sortie after earlier bombing raids on Goose Green airstrip, pilot killed.
6 May 1982
Two Royal Navy Sea Harrier FRS.1s, XZ452 and XZ453 of 801 NAS on combat air patrol from HMS Invincible of the Falklands task force, collided in poor visibility killing both pilots.[15]
21 May 1982
RAF GR3 (XZ972) crashed after being hit by a Blowpipe missile during an armed reconnaissance over Port Howard.[14][16]
23 May 1982
Royal Navy Sea Harrier FRS1 (ZA192) crashed into the sea following an explosion on departing from HMS Hermes, pilot killed.[17]
27 May 1982
RAF GR3 (XZ988) of No. 1 Squadron crashed following being hit by gunfire during an attack on Goose Green.[16]
29 May 1982
Royal Navy Sea Harrier FRS1 (ZA174) slid off the deck of HMS Invincible into the sea in bad weather, pilot recovered.[17]
30 May 1982
RAF GR3 (XZ963) of No. 1 Squadron crashed into the sea after running out of fuel, aircraft had been hit by small arms fire west of Port Stanley.[16]
1 June 1982
Royal Navy Sea Harrier FRS1 (XZ456) crashed into sea after being hit by a Roland missile during an armed reconnaissance mission south of Stanley Airport.[17]
8 June 1982
RAF GR3 (XZ989) of No. 1 Squadron damaged beyond repair landing on a metal strip runway at San Carlos, Falkland Islands.[14]
29 June 1982
RAF T4 (XW272) flew into trees on take-off at Nergen-Hohne ranges, West Germany.[6]
6 November 1982
RAF GR3 (XW767) abandoned following engine failure and crashed in sea off Falklands Island.[8][16]
23 February 1983
RAF GR3 (XV795) and T2 (XW926) collided over Cambridgeshire.[5]
22 March 1983
RAF GR3 (XV787) abandoned over Falkland Islands after engine flame out.[5]
3 May 1983
RAF GR3 (XZ134) of No. 3 lost power during take off and crashed at Stormede, West Germany.[9]
28 October 1983
RAF GR3 (XV742) of 233 Operational Conversion Unit flew into the sea on Holbeach range.[5]
19 November 1983
RAF GR3 (XV762) flew into high ground in Falkland Islands.[5]
3 June 1984
RAF GR3 (XZ135) of No. 4 Squadron crashed after catching fire in the hover during a flying display at Grossostheim.[9]
29 November 1984
RAF GR3 (XZ993) of No. 1453 Flight abandoned after bird strike at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands.[14]
18 February 1985
RAF T4 (XW933) of No. 3 Squadron collided with Germany Air Force F-104G over Bad Laer, West Germany.[7][18]
19 November 1985
RAF GR3 (XW922) of No. 233 Operational Conversion Unit rolled and was damaged during vertical landing at RAF Wittering.[7]
17 June 1986
RAF GR3 (XW916) of No. 233 Operational Conversion Unit was abandoned following an electrical failure on approach to Yeovilton.[7]
28 June 1986
RAF GR3 (XW769) abandoned when control was lost in hover at Chievres.[8]
22 October 1987
BAe GR5 (ZD325) lost over the sea while on a pre-delivery test flight from BAe Dunsfold. The pilot was inadvertently removed from the cockpit by the seat separation drogue gun, leaving the Harrier to fly without a pilot but with the broken canopy attached. The aircraft was intercepted by a passing USAF Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, to check for signs of life, before crashing in the Atlantic Ocean off the Irish coast, due to fuel exhaustion.[19]
2 November 1987
Two RAF GR3s (XV790 and XZ136) collided over Otterburn ranges.[5]
20 May 1988
RAF GR3 (XV809) hit trees following loss of control after entering clouds on take off at RAF Gutersloh.[5]
18 August 1988
RAF GR3 (XW921) of No. 3 Squadron crashed into wood near RAF Gutersloh after engine fire on takeoff.[7]
20 June 1989
RAF T4 (XW925) of No. 4 Squadron abandoned after loss of control at RAF Gutersloh.[7]

US operated Harriers
13 March 1980
A USMC pilot was killed after he flew into a 200-foot-thick cloud at the start of a short trip back to base at Cherry Point, North Carolina when his AV-8A Harrier simply went into the water without explanation.[11]
1 May 1980
A USMC pilot was killed during a vertical takeoff at Cherry Point, North Carolina. Considered one of the most spectacular crashes in Harrier history, his plane rolled, dropped to the runway, bounced into a ditch, burst into flames, flipped, slid through a hangar and into a parking lot, where it damaged 20 vehicles – without explanation.[11]
19 January 1981
A USMC pilot was killed while practicing a vertical takeoff at Cherry Point, North Carolina. He was the new commanding officer and wanted to be familiar with every plane under his new command. Investigation concluded that he had stayed with the plane too long trying to save it and had ejected too late.[11]
26 June 1981
A USMC pilot was killed during a demonstration flight being viewed by the amphibious assault ship, Tarawa. On the second pass his AV-8A Harrier narrowly missed the ship and went into the water without explanation. Given his extensive experience with the craft, investigators decided that the presence of his fiancee on the Tarawa somehow caused the crash.[11]
3 December 1981
A USMC pilot was killed on the next to last day of a month-long training exercise in California when his AV-8A Harrier crashed in the desert during a practice bombing run near Twentynine Palms. Investigation was inconclusive, but he had previously reported/complained that the radar altimeter was inoperative.[11]
26 January 1982
A USMC pilot was killed in a training flight in Yuma, AZ when a fuel tank imbalance (2800 pounds on left, 1200 pounds on right) resulted in a crash during his emergency landing attempt. That AV-8A had experienced fuel tank problems twice previously, but the mechanical problem had not been properly resolved before this flight.[11]
5 March 1982
A USMC pilot died the day after he crashed at Cherry Point, North Carolina while attempting to land his AV-8A Harrier, cause undetermined.[11]
24 September 1982
A USMC pilot was killed when his AV-8A Harrier crashed into the North Sea near Germany shortly after he took off from the USS Nassau (LHA-4) during a training exercise. Navy officials said they cannot find the investigative reports on the incident.[11]
1 December 1982
A USMC pilot was killed during a practice bombing run at MCAS Yuma. The cause of the accident is not known.[11]
27 April 1983
A USMC pilot was killed due to a jammed control stick during vertical takeoff from Cherry Point, North Carolina. The student ejected safely. The TAV-8A had crashed previously and been rebuilt. A metal hose adapter had been left beneath the cockpit floorboard and caused the stick to jam.[11]
25 April 1985
A USMC pilot was killed while practicing dog fighting maneuvers at Fallon NAS when his AV-8A Harrier could not recover from being banked severely.[11]
12 August 1987
A USMC pilot and a flight surgeon were killed when the pilot's seat unexpectedly ejected during a training flight over Pamlico County, North Carolina. The flight surgeon then ejected himself, but too late and hit the ground before the parachute could deploy.[11]
1 March 1988
A USMC pilot was killed during an air-to-air combat training run. His plane crashed in the Neuse River near Cherry Point, North Carolina.[11]
13 July 1988
A USMC pilot was killed seconds after takeoff from Cherry Point, North Carolina when his flaps malfunctioned due to an electrical short.[11]
5 November 1988
A USMC pilot was injured when his Harrier AV-8 crashed while attempting a landing at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL.[11]
3 May 1989
A USMC pilot was killed during a short takeoff, a complicated maneuver for an inexperienced pilot. The AV-8B Harrier's nozzles were reportedly not set properly for the maneuver, followed by ejecting too late.[11]

1990s
US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier

Indian operated Harriers
9 June 1992
Indian Navy Sea Harrier FRS51 (IN619) crashed, the pilot was unharmed.
9 December 1992
Indian Navy Sea Harrier FRS51 (IN612).
8 February 1996
Indian Navy Sea Harrier FRS51 (IN620) missing during night flying over sea.
30 September 1997
Indian Navy Sea Harrier FRS51 (IN611).

According to Indian media reports,[20] as many as 16 out of a total 31 Indian Navy Sea Harriers were destroyed in crashes, which claimed seven pilots over a two decade period up to 2007.

Spanish operated Harriers
23 January 1990
EAV-8A "Matador", serial unknown, crashed at Rota, pilot killed.
26 November 1993
EAV-8A "Matador", serial unknown, crashed, location unreported.
13 May 1994
EAV-8B-9 "Matador", serial 01-810, crashed off Majorca Island, pilot ejected.
19 February 1994
EAV-8A "Matador", serial 01-902, crashed, location unreported.

UK operated Harriers
25 September 1991
RAF T4 (XZ147) of No.233 Operational Conversion Unit crashed after low level bird strike near Driffield, Yorkshire; both crew ejected and survived but one (a female university officer cadet) was seriously hurt.[21]
7 February 1992
RAF GR3 (XW927) was damaged beyond repair in a heavy landing at RAF Gutersloh.[7]
14 May 1992
RAF GR3 (XZ990) crashed at RAF Wittering after loss of engine power in hover.[14]
24 November 1993
An RAF GR7 crashed due to mechanical failure, in northern Iraq during a patrol as part of Operation Northern Watch. After safely ejecting from his crippled Harrier the pilot was rescued by a US helicopter, approximately 100 miles inside Iraq, and returned to Incirlik.[22]
16 April 1994
Royal Navy FRS1 (XZ498) operating from the light carrier HMS Ark Royal shot down by a SAM fired by the Army of Republika Srpska, (most probably a Strela 2) near Gorazde. The pilot, Lieutenant Nick Richardson[23] ejected[24] and landed in friendly territory controlled by Bosnian Muslims.[25]
23 February 1996
Royal Navy Harrier T4A (XZ445) from 899 NAS crashed near the Merry Harriers Inn, about 6nm South of Taunton, Somerset about 2 miles West of RAF Culmhead. The pilot, Lt Cdr Michael Auckland, and the flight engineer, CPO Stephen Brooks were both killed in the incident.
18 December 1998
RAF Harrier GR.7 (ZD434) of 20 (R) Squadron, RAF Wittering, crashed near the village of Staindrop, 3 miles NE of Barnard Castle. The pilot, Group Captain David Haward, was killed in the accident.[26]
9 January 1997
RAF Harrier GR.7 (ZD377) of No. 4 Squadron, crashed during a short take off at RAF Laarbruch, Germany. The burning aircraft ended up inverted on the runway.[27] The pilot sustained a broken leg and minor injuries.
29 January 1999
RAF Harrier GR.7 (ZG856) of No. 3(F) Squadron, crashed at Nellis Air Force Range during Red Flag Exercise.[28] The pilot ejected successfully but suffered serious injuries.
9 July 1999
RAF Harrier GR.7 (ZD345) of No. 4 Squadron, RAF Cottesmore, crashed 5 miles SW of Boston, Lincolnshire. The pilot ejected successfully without sustaining serious injury.[29]
14 July 1999
RAF Harrier GR.7 (ZG532) of No. 3 Squadron, crashed near Cornhill on Tweed, Northumberland. The pilot ejected successfully moments before impact.[29]

US operated Harriers
26 January 1990
A USMC pilot was killed on a training flight from Kadena Air Base on Okinawa to Osan Air Base in South Korea. His AV-8B harrier fell from 35,800 feet, sliced through a cloud bank and disappeared into the water without explanation. Neither plane nor pilot was ever found.[11]
12 February 1990
A USMC pilot died and a reconnaissance observer was hurt when they ejected almost simultaneously from separate aircraft during training missions at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Twentynine Palms, California. The pilot was killed after ejecting from his AV-8B Harrier II, BuNo 163187, from VMA-223, based at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, which crashed in a remote area. The aerial observer who ejected from North American OV-10 Bronco, suffered minor injuries. The Bronco landed safely.[30]
2 October 1990
A USMC pilot was killed during a low-altitude flight over a dense North Carolina forest after ejecting from his AV-8B Harrier. He hit the trees before his parachute opened.[11]


See also: Gulf War
18 January 1991
A USMC AV-8B is shot down by anti-aircraft artillery.
22 January 1991
A USMC pilot was killed conducting a training mission during the Persian Gulf War when he smashed into the Omani coastline while approaching the deck of the amphibious assault ship Nassau for a landing.[11]
9 February 1991
A USMC AV-8B is shot down by a surface-to-air missile.
23 February 1991
A USMC AV-8B is shot down by a surface-to-air missile over Kuwait, pilot is killed.
27 February 1991
A USMC AV-8B is shot down on the final day of the Persian Gulf War by anti-aircraft artillery, pilot (Woody) is killed.
11 November 1991
A USMC pilot was killed after he steered away from the Spanish village of Villagarcía de la Torre and ejected with the plane upside down. His parachute broke away before he reached the ground. The investigation determined that a problem with the ailerons caused the crash but offered no explanation for the parachute failure.[11]
29 June 1992
The pilot from VMA-214 was killed after his parachute veered into the fireball created at the Davenport Municipal Airport in Iowa when his AV-8B Harrier exploded at the end of the runway during an aborted takeoff attempt.[31]
16 August 1992
A USMC pilot was killed while simulating bombing runs in the desert of Kuwait. Cause not determined.[11]
19 August 1992
A USMC pilot was killed during a training flight that began at Cherry Point, North Carolina when his AV-8B Harrier crashed in shallow water in Pamlico Sound. Cause not determined.[11]
10 August 1993
An AV-8B Harrier II crashed on the runway at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina after the flap electronic control module suffered from moisture ingress. Erroneous flap scheduling led to an uncontrollable descent. The pilot ejected before impact but he descended into the fireball causing fatal injuries.[32][33]
30 January 1995
A USMC pilot disappeared at night over the Indian Ocean 140 miles off the coast of Somalia. A three-week search for the pilot and plane ended without success.[11]
18 September 1995
A USMC pilot was killed during a night training run in North Carolina when his AV-8B Harrier clipped another Harrier in the formation and crashed into the Neuse River.[11]
16 February 1996
A USMC pilot was killed shortly after takeoff from Cherry Point, North Carolina when his AV-8B was apparently struck by lightning.[11]
7 October 1996
A USMC pilot was killed during a training mission over California's Chocolate Mountains when three bombs, all with expired fuses, detonated prematurely aboard his AV-8B.[11]
15 October 1997
A Harrier assigned to the Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point, N.C. crashes on takeoff during a training mission at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The Harrier went down at about 2 p.m. in a cornfield just 50 feet from I-675, near where it crosses I-70 in western Ohio. Witnesses on the ground and in another fighter said flames shot from the jet’s engine moments before it crashed and that the pilot did an amazing job at directing the disabled aircraft into an unpopulated area before safely ejecting. The crash was under investigation.[11]
2 May 1999
A Harrier, returning to USS Kearsarge crashed into the Adriatic Sea whilst on a training mission, after the pilot ejected.[34]
30 August 1999
A USMC pilot was killed after his AV-8B Harrier lost power over Death Valley National Park. He ejected but hard landed in rocky terrain and died of a head injury. Power loss was found to be due to a wrong-sized washer having been installed. The problem had been discovered three years before, but his plane was among those not yet inspected for it.[11]

Indian operated Harriers
25 May 2001
Indian Navy Sea Harrier FRS51 (IN610) crashed at Phadkevam, pilot ejected.
24 August 2003
Indian Navy Sea Harrier FRS51 (IN615) crashed into sea during landing.
17 December 2004
Indian Navy Sea Harrier FRS51 (IN604) crashed during a hover landing at Dabolim.
5 December 2005
Indian Navy Sea Harrier FRS51 (IN607) pilot killed.
5 April 2007
Indian Navy Harrier T60 (IN651) crashed into the sea near Goa, crew ejected, one rescued one killed.
9 September 2007
Indian Navy Sea Harrier FRS51 (IN608) crashed into sea during carrier landing, pilot ejected.
24 December 2007
Indian Navy Sea Harrier FRS51 (IN613) crashed at Dabolim, pilot ejected.

Italian operated Harriers
4 March 2002
AV-8B+ (Harrier II), serial MM7216/1-10, w/o after off-runway landing at Grottaglie airbase, pilot unharmed.

Spanish operated Harriers
12 April 2003
EAV-8B "Matador", serial 01-921, crashed, location unrecorded.

UK operated Harriers
2 August 2002
RAF GR7 (ZD464[35]) crashed into sea, while hovering during a performance at the Lowestoft Seafront Air Festival, Suffolk. The pilot ejected before crashing into the sea and was later rescued by a lifeboat. The pilot made an error when he retarded the throttle instead of moving the nozzle lever to the "Hover Stop" position.[36] He had then moved his hand to lower the landing gear when he noticed the engine note change, he advanced the throttle but unwittingly moved the nozzle lever forward causing a sudden loss of altitude;[36] the crash was caught on video.[37]
5 December 2002
RN T8 crashed on take off at RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire. One pilot killed
14 October 2005
RAF GR7A was destroyed and another damaged in a rocket attack by Taliban forces while parked on the tarmac at Kandahar. No one was injured in the attack. The damaged Harrier was repaired at the airfield while the destroyed one was replaced by another fighter which flew out from Britain on the same evening.[38]
13 July 2006
RAF GR9 crashed near Oxford Airport whilst transitioning to RAF Fairford for the 2006 Royal International Air Tattoo. The pilot ejected safely and was rescued. The crash was caused by pilot error.[39]
16 June 2008
An RAF GR7 crashed at around 1.50pm near the village of Ashwell, in an unpopulated area of Rutland, after the pilot ejected shortly before landing at RAF Cottesmore.[40]
14 May 2009
A British Harrier GR9A jet crashed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence said. The pilot is believed to have suffered only minor injuries when he ejected from the aircraft after it came down at Kandahar airfield at about 10:30am local time. It is believed there were no other casualties. It is thought that the RAF pilot ejected after he could not land the aircraft properly. The landing gear was not fully extended.[41][42]

US operated Harriers
15 April 2000
US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier crashed during a Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI)training mission in the Chocolate Mountain ranges in Arizona. Pilot ejected but sustained head and shoulder injuries and lost an eye.
3 February 2001
US Marine Corps TAV-8B Harrier crashed as it neared touchdown on a base runway at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, killing two aviators.[43]
1 April 2003
AV-8B+(R) Harrier 165391 of HMM-263 crashes off USS Nassau in the Persian gulf during the 2003 invasion of Iraq; the pilot was rescued.[44][45]
6 December 2005
USMC AV-8B from Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 out of Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point crashed approx 20 miles east of Saint Augustine, Florida; Capt Jason Thomsen safely ejected and was rescued by the United States Coast Guard.[46]
27 November 2007
US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier with VMA-513 crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona, with the pilot ejecting safely. The crash occurred during a routine training mission.[47]
13 February 2008
USMC AV-8B Harrier II from VMA-542 crashed at the Open Ground Farms in Carteret County, North Carolina. The pilot was able to safely eject.[48]
15 May 2008
US Marine Corps TAV-8B Harrier II from VMAT-203, crashed while on a training mission in southern Arizona, with both pilots ejecting safely.[49][50]
29 December 2008
US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier with VMAT-203 crashed in an unpopulated area approximately one mile east of the air station near NC Highway 101, killing the pilot. The crash occurred while returning from a routine training flight.[51]

Italian operated Harriers
14 July 2010
AV-8B+ (Harrier II), serial MM7221/1-15, crashed in the Jonian Sea off Calabria due to technical problems, pilot ejected safely.

US operated Harriers
18 July 2010
US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier crashed in an unpopulated area of the Ocala National Forest in Florida.[52]
29 March 2011
US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier deployed with 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) embarked aboard amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4) crashed into the water during takeoff for a routine training flight while operating in the Arabian Sea.[53][54]
25 July 2012
A US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier crashed shortly after take off for a routine training flight over an unpopulated area near Felicity, CA
14 September 2012
Militants breached the perimeter of the sprawling Camp Bastion base in Helmand province of southern Afghanistan in the September 2012 Camp Bastion raid, destroying six US Harrier AV8B aircraft and damaging a further 2. Three aircraft refuelling stations and a number of aircraft hangars were also badly damaged. The offensive took place near an airfield on the northeast side of the base, which houses US forces in Camp Leatherneck. The attack also claimed the lives of two US marines.[55][56][57]
9 May 2014
A US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jet crashed in an unpopulated area of the desert south of Phoenix, AZ.[58]
4 June 2014
A US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jet crashed into California homes, pilot ejected safely.[59]
6 May 2016
A US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier, from Marine Attack Squadron 542, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, crashed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina circa 17:05 hours. The pilot ejected safely and was rescued.[60]
22 September 2016
A US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jet crashed into the ocean after taking off from US Kadena Air Base.[61]
3 April 2018
A US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jet crashed in Djibouti shortly after take-off. The aircraft was part of a detachment attached to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron One Six Two, or VMM-162, part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which was in the East African country for the annual Alligator Dagger amphibious warfare exercise. The pilot ejected and received treatment in a hospital.[62]

See also

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. Aircraft Profile No. 198, The Hawker p. 1127 & Kestrel by Francis K. Mason - Profile Publications, 1966 - p. 9.
  2. Aircraft Profile No. 198, The Hawker p. 1127 & Kestrel by Francis K. Mason - Profile Publications, 1966 - p. 10.
  3. carlin – eye witness to the event when a member of the Evaluation Squadron, corroborated by Capt. J.J. Tyson, USN Retired, who was then Deputy Commander of the squadron.
  4. Halley 2001 p. 82
  5. Halley 2001 pp. 94–96
  6. Halley 2001 p. 97
  7. Halley 2001 p. 103
  8. Halley 2001 p. 100
  9. Halley 2001 p. 114
  10. "Newspaper cuttings". www.ccan.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  11. Sack, Kevin (17 December 2002). "More Than a Few Good Men". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  12. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/77329
  13. "1981 | 2389 | Flight Archive". Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  14. Halley 2001 pp. 118–119
  15. Price, Dr. Alfred, "Shar Performer", Aeroplane, London, UK, Number 408, April 2007, Volume 35, Number 4, pages 37, 40.
  16. Burden 1986, pp. 382–285
  17. Burden 1986, pp. 230–235
  18. Vor 30 Jahren stürzte ein Kampfflugzeug in Bad Laer ab (german)
  19. ISBN 978 085733 079 6 (Calvet/Johnstone 2012) Page 43
  20. Narayana Kumar, K.P. (25 November 2007). "The Indian Navy's deadly aircraft". Livemint.com. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  21. Ranter, Harro. "Accident BAe Harrier T.4A XZ147, 25 Sep 1991". Aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  22. "Harrier crash in Iraq". The Independent. London. 24 November 1993. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  23. "Lt. Nick Richardson". World of Warplanes. 30 January 2012. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  24. "Sea Harrier Losses & Ejections". Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
  25. Bellamy, Christopher (17 April 1994). "Serbs shoot down British jet as all-out conflict looms". The Independent. London, United Kingdom.
  26. "INQUEST: Crash pilot lost control". Peterborough Today. 13 December 2001. Retrieved 25 August 2017.
  27. Cooper, Peter J., "Picking up the Pieces", AIR International, Stamford, Lincs., UK, November 1998, Volume 55, Number 5, page 281.
  28. "Military Aircraft Accident Summary for Royal Air Force Harrier ZG856" (PDF). Ukserials.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  29. "Second Harrier crash sparks safety fears". BBC News. 15 July 1999. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  30. Washington, D.C.: Washington Times, Marine dead after ejecting from plane, Wednesday, 14 February 1990, page A-2.
  31. Sack, Kevin (17 December 2002). "'At Least We Got to Kiss Him Goodbye' – PART III: Casualties". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  32. "Marine Capt. W.P. Delaney Dies in Crash". The Washington Post. 15 August 1993. Retrieved 16 March 2009.
  33. Sack, Kevin; Alan C. Miller (16 December 2002). "A Staggering Abundance of Crash-Causing Glitches". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 March 2009.
  34. "Two jets crash in Kosovo campaign". CNN. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  35. "Military Aircraft Accident Summary for Royal Air Force Harrier ZD464" (PDF). Ukserials.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  36. "RAF Accident Summary". MOD. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  37. "Air show Harrier crashes into sea". BBC News. 2 August 2002. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  38. Rayment, Sean (16 October 2005). "Harrier destroyed by Afghan rocket". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  39. "Harrier jet crash in Oxfordshire was 'genuine mistake'". BBC News. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 24 September 2012.
  40. Sturcke, James (16 June 2008). "Pilot escapes Harrier jet crash". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  41. "Jet pilot ejects in Afghanistan". BBC. 14 May 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
  42. "Harrier crash in Kandahar, Afghanistan HQ". Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  43. "National News Briefs; Harrier Jets Grounded After Crash Kills Two". The New York Times. 5 February 2001. Retrieved 8 May 2010.
  44. "Coalition air losses, IIIPGW". Archived from the original on 19 July 2011.
  45. "2003". Archived from the original on 27 February 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
  46. "News4jax".
  47. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 April 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  48. "Cherry Point Harrier jet crashes". The News and Observer, Raleigh, N.C. 14 February 2008.
  49. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  50. "Marine pilots survive Harrier crash - Tucson Citizen Morgue, Part 1 (…". Archived from the original on 4 February 2013.
  51. "Marines.mil - Unit Directory". Marines.mil. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  52. Joe Callahan. "Military investigates crash of Harrier". Gainesville.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  53. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  54. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 April 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  55. "ISAF: Insurgents in deadly attack in Afghanistan wore U.S. Army uniforms". CNN. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  56. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  57. "Afghanistan 'rogue' attack: Four US soldiers killed". BBC News. 16 September 2012.
  58. "Marine Corps Harrier crashes in Arizona desert; pilot slightly hurt". Stripes.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  59. BBC article
  60. "Marine Corps Harrier jet crashes off Wrightsville Beach". Wilmington Star News. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  61. "U.S. warplane crashes off Okinawa, prompting fresh safety concerns". Japan Times. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  62. Trevithick, Joseph. "US Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier Crashes During Exercise in Djibouti". Thedrive.com. Retrieved 1 March 2019.

Bibliography
  • Burden, Rodney A; Michael I Draper; Douglas A Rough; Colin R Smith; David L Wilton (1986). Falklands – The Air War. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN 0-85368-842-7.
  • Halley, James J (2001). Royal Air Force Aircraft XA100 to XZ999. Air-Britain. ISBN 0-85130-311-0.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing. 1985.
  • Eden, Paul (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft. London, UK: Amber Books, 2004. ISBN 1-904687-84-9.
  • Bull, Stephen (2004). Encyclopedia of military technology and innovation. Greenwood Publishing. ISBN 1-57356-557-1.
  • Grove, Eric J (1987). Vanguard to Trident; British Naval Policy since World War II. The Bodley Head. ISBN 0-370-31021-7.
  • Gunston, Bill and Mike Spick (1983). Modern Air Combat: The Aircraft, Tactics and Weapons Employed in Aerial Warfare Today. New York: Crescent Books. ISBN 0-517-41265-9.
  • Cordesman, Anthony H. (2003). The Iraq War: strategy, tactics, and military lessons. Washington, D.C.: Centre for Strategic and International Studies. ISBN 0-89206-432-3.
  • Epstein, David G. (2006). Making and Doing Deals: Contracts in Context (second edition). Newark, New Jersey: LexisNexis. ISBN 0-8205-7044-3.
  • Evans, Andy (1998). BAE / McDonnell Douglas Harrier. Ramsbury, UK: The Crowood Press. ISBN 1-86126-105-5.
  • Grove, Eric (1990). The Future of Sea Power. London, UK: Routledge. ISBN 0-415-00482-9.
  • Jackson, Robert (1987). NATO air power. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing. ISBN 0-906393-80-9.
  • Lambert, Mark (1993). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1993–94. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 0-7106-1066-1.
  • Polmar, Norman (2005). The Naval Institute guide to the ships and aircraft of the U.S. fleet. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-685-2.
  • Taylor, John W. R. (1988). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988–89. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data. ISBN 0-7106-0867-5.
  • Wilson, Stewart (2000). BAe/McDonnell Douglas Harrier. Airlife, 2000. ISBN 1-84037-218-4.
  • Wilson, Stewart (2000). Combat Aircraft since 1945. London: Aerospace Publications, 2000. ISBN 1-875671-50-1.
  • Ashley, Stephen (October 1988). "Jump Jet". Popular Science. 233 (4): 56–59, 112, 114.
  • Walker, Karen (19 July 1986). "V/STOL Comes of Age". Flight International: 23–25. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  • Bishop, Chris and Chris Chant. Aircraft Carriers. Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA: Zenith Imprint, 2004. ISBN 0-7603-2005-5.
  • Braybrook, Roy. Battle for the Falklands: Air Forces. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 1982. ISBN 0-85045-493-X.
  • Brown, Kevin. "The Plane That Makes Airfields Obsolete." Popular Mechanics, 133(6), June 1970, pp. 80–83.
  • Bull, Stephen. Encyclopedia of Military Rechnology and Innovation. Westport, Connecticut, USA: Greenwood Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-57356-557-1.
  • Burr, Lawrence and Peter Bull. US Fast Battleships 1938–91: The Iowa Class. New York, USA: Osprey Publishing, 2010. ISBN 1-84603-511-2.
  • Buttler, Tony. British Secret Projects: Jet Fighters Since 1950. Hinckley, UK: Midland Publishing, 2000. ISBN 1-85780-095-8.
  • Congress Committee on Appropriations. "Department of Defense Appropriations for 1979: Part 5". Washington D.C., USA: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1979.
  • Cowan, Charles W. (ed.) Flypast 2. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1972. ISBN 0-85383-191-2.
  • Davies, Peter and Anthony M. Thornborough. The Harrier Story. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1997. ISBN 978-1-55750-357-2.
  • Ellis, Ken. Wrecks & Relics, 21st edition. Manchester, UK: Crécy Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-0-85979-134-2.
  • Evans, Andy. BAe/McDonald Douglas Harrier. Ramsbury, UK: The Crowood Press, 1998. ISBN 1-86126-105-5.
  • Farley, John. A View from the Hover: My Life in Aviation. Bath, UK: Seager Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-0-9532752-5-0.
  • Freedman, Lawrence. The Official History of the Falklands Campaign. Volume II: War and Diplomacy. London, UK: Routledge, 2007. ISBN 978-0-415-41911-6.
  • Friedman, Norman. U.S. Aircraft Carriers: an Illustrated Design History. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1983. ISBN 0-87021-739-9.
  • Gunston, W. T. "Pegasus updating prospects". Flight International, 22 January 1977, pp. 189–191.
  • Hannah, Donald. Hawker FlyPast Reference Library. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-946219-01-X.
  • Jackson, Paul. "British Aerospace/McDonnell Douglas Harrier". World Air Power Journal, Volume 6, Summer 1991. pp. 46–105.
  • James, Derek N. Hawker, an Aircraft Album No. 5. New York: Arco Publishing Company, 1973. ISBN 0-668-02699-5. (First published in the UK by Ian Allan in 1972)
  • Jefford, C.G., ed. The RAF Harrier Story. London: Royal Air Force Historical Society, 2006. ISBN 0-9530345-2-6.
  • Jenkins, Dennis R. Boeing / BAe Harrier. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 1998. ISBN 1-58007-014-0.
  • Layman, R D and Stephen McLaughlin. The Hybrid Warship. London: Conway, 1991. ISBN 0-85177-555-1.
  • Markman, Steve and Bill Holder. Straight Up: A History of Vertical Flight. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0-7643-1204-9.
  • Mason, Francis K. Harrier. Wellingborough, UK: Patrick Stephens Limited, Third edition, 1986. ISBN 0-85059-801-X.
  • Mason, Francis K. Hawker Aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam, 1991. ISBN 0-85177-839-9
  • Mason, Francis K. Hawker Aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam Publishing, 1971. ISBN 978-0-370-00066-4.
  • Miller, David M. O. and Chris Miller. "Modern Naval Combat". Crescent Books, 1986. ISBN 0-517-61350-6.
  • Moxton, Julian. "Supersonic Harrier: One Step Closer". Flight International, 4 December 1982, pp. 1633–1635.
  • Spick, Mike and Bill Gunston. The Great Book of Modern Warplanes. Osceola, WI: MBI Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0-7603-0893-4.
  • Sturtivant, Ray. Fleet Air Arm Fixed-Wing Aircraft since 1946. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians), 2004. ISBN 978-0-85130-283-6.
  • Sturtivant, Ray. RAF Flying Training and Support Units since 1912. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians), 2007. ISBN 0-85130-365-X.
  • Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Navy Aircraft since 1911. Putnam Aeronautical, 1990. ISBN 0-87021-792-5.
  • Vann, Frank. Harrier Jump Jet. New York, USA: Bdd Promotional Book Co, 1990. ISBN 0-7924-5140-6.

Further reading
  • Farley, John OBE. A View From The Hover: My Life in Aviation. Bath, UK: Seager Publishing/Flyer Books, 2010, first edition 2008. ISBN 978-0-9532752-0-5.
  • Polmar, Norman and Dana Bell. One Hundred Years of World Military Aircraft. Annapolis, Maryland, USA: Naval Institute Press, 2003. ISBN 1-59114-686-0.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.