This, After Two Crew Members Were Lost In Crash Near Jacksonville Naval Air Station

Seasoned pilots and attorneys at the aviation law firm of Kreindler & Kreindler Friday cited what they called a documented history of design problems with the S-3 Viking aircraft, the same equipment that crashed Wednesday near the Jacksonville, FL, Naval Air Station.

As Aero-News reported in real-time Wednesday, two crew members, one from Nebraska, the other from New York, were killed in the accident as they were on approach to NAS JAX.

"Given the early stage of the investigation, it is premature to speculate as to the precise cause of the crash, however, the S-3 does have a documented history of design problems," said Kreindler attorney Daniel O. Rose. "These include entering uncommanded rolls and other in-flight and on-the-ground control anomalies."

Several attorneys with the law firm are former military pilots, including Rose, who flew the S-3 Viking aircraft. Originally designed for anti-submarine warfare, the equipment is manufactured by Lockheed for use in air-to-air combat, anti-surface warfare, reconnaissance, search and rescue missions and in-flight refueling.

The US Navy bases the S-3 Viking in Jacksonville, FL, and San Diego, CA. A June 1985 document entitled, "Lockheed Private Data [-] Significant In-Service Problem Report," states that: "The S-3A has experienced flight control anomalies, both in flight and on the ground." Referring to the S-3, a 1987 memorandum from a staff engineer in Lockheed's Military System Safety division states that, "A recent report... described an in flight lateral control system problem and highlights an urgent, repeating and an as yet unresolved safety of flight problem." The law firm is available to offer commentary about:

• The history of the S-3 and a past legal case involving it Victims' and victims' family rights in air crashes
• All other legal issues and guidelines related to air crashes
• Airplane technical and operational matters
• Crash investigation and accident reconstruction

FMI: www.kreindler.com