Dates

Event

Constructed as a P-3B-65-LO by Lockheed at Burbank, California, USA.

March 1966

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 152731.

11 March 1966

Transferred to Patrol Squadron 30 (VP-30) Pros Nest, NAS Jacksonville, FL.
Operated with markings: LL-3

31 October 1968

Transferred to Patrol Squadron 10 (VP-10) Red Lancers, NAS Jacksonville, FL.
Operated with markings: LD-34

7 January 1970

Transferred to Patrol Squadron 23 (VP-23) Seahawks, NAS Brunswick, ME.

March 1971

Transferred to Patrol Squadron 10 (VP-10) Red Lancers, NAS Jacksonville, FL.
Operated with markings: LD-1

18 November 1974

Transferred to Patrol Squadron 30 (VP-30) Pros Nest, NAS Jacksonville, FL.

9 January 1975

Transferred to Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 2 (VQ-2) Batmen, NAS Whidbey Island, WA.
Operated with markings: JQ-20

21 May 1975

Transferred to Patrol Squadron 30 (VP-30) Pros Nest, NAS Jacksonville, FL.
Operated with markings: LL-01/LL-20

27 January 1980

Transferred to Patrol Squadron 90 (VP-90) Lions, NAS Glenview, IL.
Operated with markings: LX-7

1982

Photographer: Midway Airport Historians
Notes: At Chicago Midway

11 May 1985

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: Practicing instrument approaches at DuPage Airport, West Chicago, IL. 35mm slide photographed from control tower.

27 August 1991

Transferred to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) with inventory number 2P0068.

July 1994

To National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Purchased as spare parts aircraft.

July 1994

Civil registration N41RF reserved but not taken up.

18 December 1996

To Aero Union Corporation, Chico, CA.

1 January 1997

Assigned to MacDill AFB, FL for storage.

10 February 1997

To Aero Union Corporation, Chico, CA with new c/r N926AU.

Operated as fire service #26.

Based at Aero Union Corporation, Chico Municipal Airport, Chico, CA.
View the Location Dossier

May 1999

Converted to a P-3B Aerostar.

5 May 1999

Certificate of airworthiness for NR926AU (P3B, 152731) issued.

20 April 2005

Crashed.
There were three fatalities. The accident occurred at the Chico Municipal Airport (CIC) Chico, CA, United States while maneuvering. The airframe was destroyed. Prior to the accident flight, the air tanker airplane had flown 9 times on the day of the accident, for a total flight time of 5 hours and 46 minutes...
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report.

20 April 2005

Crashed.
Summary: The airframe was a loss. There were three fatalities. There were 15,614 hours on the airframe at the time. It was a local training flight from Chico Airport, CA (CIC/KCIC), United States of America. The accident occurred at 22 km (13. 8 mls) of Chico, CA (United States of America) while en route. Narrative: The tanker aircraft had taken off from Chico qualification check flight for pilots who were scheduled to conduct firefighting operations during the upcoming fire season. The accident flight involved conducting practice drops of water over an area of rugged mountainous terrain located north of the Chico Airport...
For a complete description of the event read the Aviation Safety Network Report.

13 May 2005

Civil registration, N926AU, cancelled.