NAS, Fallon, Navada VMCJ-3 Mishap By: Capt. Dave McNally, Lt.Col. Larry rannals, -Capt. Dave McNally- The pilot was my roomate. 1/Lt Fred McClendon. I accompanied his body back to Odessa, Texas. I believe that the RSO was 2nd Lt. Dave Asbury. The crash was an over rotation on take-off. I think that the safety board found that the primary factors were the high altitude and pilot error. This was the second take off of the morning. 1/LT Ron Chrichley was airborne at the time. The plane over rotated into a classic "Sabre Dance". The Pilot, Fred McClendon, apparently never attempted to eject and was killed during the crash and Dave ejected during the crash. I was the Flight Line officer at the time and this crash occurred at NAS Fallon Nevada while the entire squadron, VMCJ-3 at the time, was on a 30-day training deployment to Fallon. -Lt.Col.Larry D. Rannals- Lt. Asbury did successfully eject as the aircraft stalled at about 75-100 above ground, and he got a good chute. However as the aircraft crashed back to the ground and exploded into a fireball, Lt. Asbury was unfortunately decending in his chute immediately over the area of the crash; and the resulting fireball melted/collasped his chute causing him to fall to the ground from a great height and he was subsequently killed due to injuries substained on ground impact. I, a Captain at the time, was in another RF-4 holding short of the runway awaiting Tower clearance as the next aircraft for takeoff... immeditely after Fred McClendon's aircraft departed. Being number one for takeoff, I set there and watched the entire event as it happened... truly not believing what my eyes were seeing. Of course as soon as the crash happened, the Tower immediately closed the runway and instructed all other aircraft in the hold short area to taxi back to the Line. I still remember to this day, how after just watching this crash occur, that as I set there at the hold-short line with feet on the brakes, how both of my knees just started steadily shaking. It was actually a relief to be told by the Tower to taxi back to the line, as I was certainly in no mood to go flying after just witnessing this tradegy. As I recall, I think my knees continued to shake all the way back to the squadron line If you have any detailed information that you would like to add to any of the RF-4B mishap pages please feel free to drop me a line at the E-mail below info@rf4bphantom.com Recommended Screen Resolution 1024 x 768 Enable pop-ups to fully enjoy this site. This website is not affiliated with the U.S. Government or the United States Marine Corps in any way. This website is a copyright and the property of the Phabulous Phantom Productions and the information and photos gathered for this website are intended for the purpose of providing un-official information and entertainment for those interested in the history of Marine Corps RF-4B Squadrons and the RF-4B Phantom II aircraft.