Two On Board Lost

Two crewmembers were killed Wednesday when their US Navy S-3 Viking crashed on the base at NAS Jacksonville.

"There was a large flash, like lightning, only brighter. Then we heard a big 'kaboom,'" witness Donna Wells told WJXT Television News. "Just a few minutes later, a big cloud of black smoke came up over the trees."

The aircraft went down on the edge of NAS JAX at approximately 1200 local. A Navy official told the station that the S-3B was on approach to NAS JAX when it crashed. The aircraft and crew were attached to Sea Control Squadron 32 -- "The Maulers."

Another witness said the aircraft had been flying extremely low with its engines running rough. Eric Cook of Ortega told WJXT the aircraft was already trailing smoke when it banked in an attempt to make the field.

Other witnesses said they spotted two parachutes indicating the flight crew ejected before the aircraft impacted the ground, but that wasn't confirmed. Identities of the crewmembers hasn't been released, pending notification of their next of kin.

FMI: www.navy.mil