Nellis AFB F-4D Phantoms #66-7594 and #66-6717 3/16/13
Read MoreOn 8/28/79, two F-4Ds #66-7594 and #66-7617 collided about fifty miles north of Las Vegas scattering wreckage over a large area. They were part of a flight of three F-4Ds with the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing out of Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada participating in an Air Combat Maneuvers (ACM) flight. The flight proceeded to Elgin ATCAA and set up for a tactical intercept. The first intercept and ACM engagement were completed without incident. During the second engagement, 66-7594 and 66-7617 were maneuvering to attack the third F-4D when they collided. The crew of one of the F-4Ds, pilot Capt. Robert W. Newman and WSO Capt. Patrick Y. Nakagawa were able to eject safely, but the crew of the second F-4D, pilot Capt. Ronald L. Diehl and WSO Capt. Ray H. Littge ejected but were fatally injured upon ground impact.