| Event | An E-3B AWACS crashes outside Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska |
|---|---|
| Date | September 22, 1995 |
| Location | Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska |
| Aircraft | Boeing E-3 Sentry, serial number 77-0354, callsign Yukla 27 |
| Operator | 962d Airborne Air Control Squadron |
| Source Subject | 1995 Alaska Boeing E-3 Sentry accident |
The Disaster and Its Immediate Cause
On September 22, 1995, a United States Air Force Boeing E-3 Sentry crashed into a wooded area less than a mile from the end of the runway at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska. The aircraft, serial number 77-0354 with the callsign Yukla 27, lost all 24 crewmembers on board during the incident.
The Sentry was operated by the 962d Airborne Air Control Squadron and was scheduled for a training sortie. The aircraft had first flown on July 5, 1978, and was delivered to the United States Air Force on January 19, 1979, before being modified to E-3B standard.
First Reports From the Scene
The accident sequence began when a C-130 Hercules transport aircraft took off ahead of the Sentry, disturbing a flock of Canada geese. The crew of the Sentry was unaware of the disturbance as they lined up on runway 06 and started their departure roll.
As the E-3 rotated, it ingested birds into its number 1 and 2 engines, resulting in the loss of thrust from both left engines. The crew initiated a turn to the left to return to the airfield, but with a full fuel load and two engines out on the same wing, the aircraft was unable to maintain altitude. After only 42 seconds of flight, the Sentry crashed into a hilly, wooded area and exploded.
Rescue, Response, and Fallout
The investigation identified the ingestion of Canada geese into the number 1 and 2 engines as the probable cause of the crash. Investigators also cited insufficient efforts by the air base to deter birds and the failure of the air traffic control tower to report the presence of birds to both the Sentry crew and airfield management as contributing factors.
The wreckage path revealed that the aircraft struck the ground nose first and slid to the top of a hill, where the empennage broke off. The outboard right wing impacted the left side of the wreckage, the right-hand wing broke off, and the rotodome section landed on its back, breaking up the rest of the aircraft.
The Questions the Disaster Left Behind
The Boeing E-3 Sentry with serial number 77-0354 had first flown on July 5, 1978, and was delivered to the United States Air Force on January 19, 1979. It was later modified by Boeing to E-3B standard before the September 22, 1995, accident that ended its service life.
Evidence Map: How We Checked the Central Claim
What the sources verify and how they were used
This comparison separates the event page selected for the account from the independently verified page used to corroborate it.
Central claim checked: An E-3B AWACS crashes outside Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska after multiple bird strikes to two of the four engines soon after takeoff; all 24 on board are killed.
| Direct source | Verification role | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 Alaska Boeing E-3 Sentry accident · Wikipedia Accessed 2026-09-21 | Selected event record | Supports the central claim shown above. |
| GeoHack - 1995 Alaska Boeing E-3 Sentry accident · geohack.toolforge.org Accessed 2026-09-21 | Independent corroboration | Supports the central claim shown above. |
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Questions readers ask about 1995 Alaska Boeing E-3 Sentry accident
The recorded event date is September 22, 1995.
The recorded location is Elmendorf Air Force Base, United States.