Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, April 18, 1995                   TAG: 9504180151
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ALEXANDER CITY, ALA.                                LENGTH: Short

AIR FORCE JET CRASH KILLS 8

The plane was trying to make an unplanned landing at the Alexander City airport when it crashed near a subdivision 4 miles from Alexander City, said Lt. Frances Sconi, a spokeswoman for Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland.

A witness said he could see the pilot was struggling with the plane.

Jimmy Keel said he watched the plane fly just above the tree line as he sat on the porch of his bait and tackle shop.

``It was coming in a straight line for my store. I could see the pilot fighting the plane,'' Keel said. ``He was in trouble. He fought it up, it went left, then right, then it exploded.''

Another witness, Miranda Wyckoff, said she heard three explosions, including one as the jet plunged to the ground.

The plane had been en route to Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, said Lt. Col. Johnny Whitaker, a spokesman for Randolph.

He said the jet, which had taken off from Andrews, was based in Randolph and was carrying a crew of two and six passengers.

A Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said both military and civilian personnel were aboard the plane.

Whitaker, however, said all eight people were Defense Department personnel.

The plane did not appear to strike any homes when it went down around 6:30 p.m.

Defense Department spokesman Kenneth Bacon in Washington said the plane was a C-21, a military version of the Learjet executive aircraft.

Keywords:
FATALITY