John B. McKay

Test pilot

John B. McKay spent over two decades with NACA and later NASA, from early 1951 until late 1971, focusing on high-speed flight research. He started as an intern but became a pilot in mid-1952.

Besides the X-15, he piloted experimental aircraft like the D-558-1, D-558-2, X-1B, and X-1E, and worked as a research pilot on programs for the F-100, F-102, F-104, and F-107. In 1958, he was chosen for the U.S. Air Force's Man In Space Soonest program, which never launched. He authored several technical papers and belonged to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the Society of Experimental Test Pilots.

Accident

On November 9, 1962, McKay undertook Flight 74 of the X-15 program on the X-15 56-6671 which was the Number-Two X-15 on its 31st flight. The X-15 was attached to its mothership the Boeing NB-52B Stratofortress 53-008, nicknamed Balls 8. McKay's mission was to reach an altitude of 125,000 ft at Mach 5.5 and to fly the aircraft without the lower part of its ventral fin. The X-15 was released from the Stratofortress on schedule at 45,000 ft over Mud Lake, Nevada at 10:23:07.0 local time with a launch speed of 450 knots.

Upon release, McKay was unable to attain the full power of the rocket engine which became stuck at 30% power and unresponsive to throttle control. Due to the lack of throttle response it was decided to make a forced landing at Mud Lake instead of landing at Edwards Air Force Base. McKay was at an altitude of 53,950 ft having attained a speed of Mach 1.49 when he started his descent for landing at Mud Lake. The motor was kept operating for 70.5 seconds to burn excess fuel and to reduce weight.

The flaps failed to activate during landing and the aircraft speed at touchdown was higher than normal. Due to the excess speed and weight the aircraft experienced failures because of the increased dynamic loading which eventually led to its overturning. The X-15 airframe rolled and struck the lakebed while inverted. McKay suffered crushed vertebrae.

Although McKay returned to flight as an X-15 pilot, his injuries contributed to an early death. Recurring severe pain caused by the crash forced his early retirement.

Did You Know?

• On November 9, 1962, McKay's X-15 engine stuck at 30% power, forcing an emergency landing at Mud Lake where the aircraft rolled inverted, crushing his vertebrae.
• McKay died on April 27, 1975, at age 52; injuries from the X-15 crash were a major factor in his premature death.