24 October 1974 – F-4D

A F-4D Phantom from the USAF with serial WR 65-0687 landed at Soesterberg after a mid-air collision with a Cessna above the village of Wouw, the Netherlands.

The F-4D left that afternoon from Bentwaters AB in the United Kingdom for a mission to the Vliehors shooting range. Pilot was Captain Richard C. Kowalski and WSO was Lieutenant Samuel G. Seagle. The aircraft was accompanied by another F-4D, the WR 65-0696. After the exercise at the shooting range, the F-4s returned back to the UK, partly crossing the Netherlands. Around 14:30 the F-4s were in Dutch airspace on an altitude of 25.000 feet. Soon after they were given permission to lower their altitude to 1.400 feet. Both F-4s flew at that height for several minutes with the second F-4 about 500 feet behind the first. The planes flew below the clouds and the visibility was good.

At the same time a civil Dutch Cessna F-172L with serial PH-NOE made a local flight from Seppe Airfield and was flying at the same altitude as the two F-4s. At 14:41 the pilot of the second F-4 warned his colleague for the approaching Cessna from the right hand side. Although the first F-4 tried the avoid a collision Captain Kowalski did not succeed. The F-4 hit the Cessna with his belly tank and right wing. The Cessna practically broke in two, killing pilot, G. van Delft, immediately.

The debris of the Cessna fell on the ground near the village of Wouw and was spread over more than 300 meters. Some parts hit a farmhouse, damaging a sleeping room, the kitchen and the living room. Luckily on the ground there were no injuries.

The F-4 had major damage. The fuselage and right wing were heavily damaged and the right motor broke down. The crew considered to eject from the plane but as soon as they felt that the F-4 was still flyable, they decided that both F-4s would try to reach Soesterberg Air Base. They successfully landed at Soesterberg. The first F-4 had to use its after burner and arresting hook to safely get the F-4 on the runway.

The plane was repaired. The repairs took about a half year. The F-4 left Soesterberg at 8 April 1975 for a flight back to the United Kingdom.