Collision in flight of a F-104G with a DC-3 from the USAF

Two F-104G returning from an intercept mission as a formation Delta-Tang0 35, coming in to the runway 05 in closed formation with the left wingman.

At that time there was still in existence a publication about a maneuver of approximation at low level for conventional aircraft, which after the incident it was cancelled over the 05 runway from the V or CPL.

 When the DC-3 piloted by the USAF Colonel William H. Delacey was attempting said maneuver of approximation staying higher than the stipulated altitude, the two F-104Gs could not see the DC-3 and the left wingman of the formation collided with the DC-3.

In the collision, the left tip of the F-104G cut a small piece of the surface  and he had to land on a cultivated field next to the Jarama, between Campo Real and San Fernando de Henares.

In the accident, the F-104G lost its tip tank, had some cuts on the left wing and was losing hydraulic fluid. But neither the scare, nor the hit or the loss of hydraulic fluid prevented the pilot, in his cool and calm manner, from taking the airplane to the runway and land it without any other consequence.