Collision
Near the Bakersfield Flight Service Station, the crew of '458' decided to deviate east from their flight plan to avoid heavy air traffic in the Los Angeles area. Lt. Phillips was forced to climb to 15,500 feet (4,700 m) from 1,000 feet (300 m) because of deteriorating weather conditions. Meanwhile, shortly after takeoff, Flight 706 received two radar traffic advisories, neither of which indicated the presence of '458'.
Soon after reaching 15,500 feet (4,700 m) the fighter's DME (radio) showed MCAS El Toro was 50 miles (80 km) away. The pilot of '458' then performed an aileron roll, a flight maneuver that rolled the aircraft 360° in order to allow the pilot to observe any air traffic above or below the aircraft. Lt. Schiess, the Radar Intercept Officer, was operating the fighter's radar, which was unable to detect any aircraft due to its deteriorated condition. Because of the stowed position of the scope, he had been leaning forward and looking downward at the instrument. Between three and ten seconds prior to the collision, he glanced up and observed the DC-9 in his peripheral vision and shouted a warning to the pilot. The pilot attempted an evasive roll but was unable to clear the oncoming airliner.
At about 6:11 p.m., Flight 706 and '458' collided at about 15,150 feet (4,620 m) altitude, over the San Gabriel Mountains in the vicinity of Duarte, California. The stricken airliner "cartwheeled" through the air, struck a mountain, and exploded. Witnesses in nearby Duarte described hearing a loud noise and seeing two flaming objects falling from the sky. A second explosion shook the area as the aircraft hit the mountain. Lt. Schiess, the Radar Intercept Officer, ejected from the F-4B and parachuted to safety; Lt. Phillips, the pilot, was unable to eject in time, and was killed. The F-4B crashed on Mount Bliss, approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) from the airliner wreckage. Burning debris from the collision and subsequent crashes set off numerous small brush fires in the area. Wreckage was scattered across a mile of nearly inaccessible terrain in the Angeles National Forest.
Read more about this topic: Hughes Airwest Flight 706
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