Submitted by: the ole gunny

I'm sure that some  of you may  not remember this particular event but, back on the 8^th of April, 2000, a military aircraft crash was reported on a number of National and local News Channels in the Arizona area .  The populace were informed that a  MARINE Tilt rotor aircraft had crashed at  the Marana Regional Airport and, 19 MARINES lives were lost in this tragic event.  This airport is just to the North of Tucson and East of Yuma.  The aircraft was flying in tandem with another V-22 which were both from MARINE Tilt Rotor Training Squadron 204 based at  NAS Patuxent River, MD.  Reports indicate that the Aircraft were part of and, in support of, an Operational Evaluation or OPEVAL when the incident occurred.

According to reports the 2 Aircraft had taken off from MCAS Yuma and were bound for Marana Regional A/P.  The mission was to load passengers in Yuma- a simulation of a rescue from, say, an overseas embassy- and fly them to safety.

Various sources indicated that the lead Osprey approached Marana Regional about 2000 ft. too high but, rather than circle to shed altitude, the Pilot decided to land.  He descended dangerously fast, hitting the runway hard.  The second Aircraft, with a crew of 4 and 15 fully outfitted MARINES on board, followed the lead Aircraft and came down even faster, more than 2000 feet per minute going just under 45 miles per hour.  At 245 feet above the ground the Osprey lost lift in it's right rotor, stalled, and rolled over before it could issue a “MAYDAY”.  It consequently crashed and exploded, killing everyone on board.

Fourteen of the nineteen  MARINES  lost were from the 3^rd Battalion. 5^th MARINES, 1st. Mar. Div.  One MARINE from MARINE WING Communications Squadron. 38, Three were from MARINE Helicopter Squadron #1 and One from MARINE Tilt Rotor Training Squadron 204.

The annual Memorial Service will be conducted at 1000  on the 7^th of April, 2012  and  is hosted by the Nighthawk 72 Detachment of the MARINE CORPS  League.  Family members, first responders, MARINES, former MARINES and guests are welcome.