F-104 D-8337 seen at RAF Coninsby immediately prior to take off on 12th April 1983. The lead aircraft, D-8061 can be seen behind.

Seconds before impact, D-8337 can be seen in the centre, trailing black smoke, whilst D-8061 can be seen climbing above the ridge in the distance.

The explosion was witnessed by a plane spotter from the opposite side. D-8061 can just be made out on the right.

A photo taken by the crash investigators showing the initial impact point above the bridge.

The tail section as it appeared in 1983.

The tail section as it appeared in 2010.

The cockpit canopy and ejector seat rails.

2nd Lt Martin Sasbrink-Harkema beside a 312sqn F-104 at Volkel.

The body of 2nd Lt Martin Sasbrink-Harkema returns to Volkel.

The Crash

The aircraft was on detachment to RAF Coningsby from its home base of Volkel in Holland to take part in the NATO exercise, Operation Mallett Blow.

The purpose of the exercise was to bomb a bridge target located in the centre of the Otterburn Range situated halfway between Otterburn and Alwinton. The bridge was situated at the foot of a slope known locally as Dykehams Edge, named after an old shepherds house which used to be located in the area.

Two pairs of F-104's were observed as they entered the target area, D-8061 the lead aircraft with D-8337 the wingman. D-8061 successfully dropped its bomb on the target but D-8337, which had moved in behind the lead aircraft, was much lower. D-8337 was seen to pitch up as it passed over the bridge by Flt Lt J.B. Bowen, umpire on a rapier missile site. Proceding the pitch up the nose of the aircraft was observed to then pitch down quite suddenly followed by a further pitch up and pitch down until on the final pitch up the aircraft struck the slope directly behind the target, slid along the ground for 200 yards and exploded.

2nd Lt Sasbrink-Harkema was killed in the accident which was later attributed to a safety system, known as the automatic pitch control, engaging as the aircraft entered a wing stall. Two reasons were put forward for this, the first being that D-8337 was incorrectly positioned behind the lead aircraft and entered its slip stream which disrupted the airflow over the wings. The second being that 2nd Lt Sasbrink-Harkema had become too fixated on the target, lost his position and pulled up too steeply trying to avoid the high ground ahead.

Whatever the cause, 2nd Lt Martin Sasbrink-Harkema simply did not have enough time to react to the situation and a crash was inevitable.

Lockheed F-104G D-8337

Unit	312sqn, RNLAF
Date	12th April 1983
Location	Dykehams Edge, Otterburn, Northumberland

The Crew

Pilot

2nd Lt Martin Sasbrink-Harkema, Dutch, Killed

The Crash

Lockheed F-104G D-8337

Unit

Date

Location

The Crew

Pilot