Benjamin Robert Briggs

Graduating Class
1961

Major
Mechanical Engineering

Hometown
Greenville, South Carolina

Family
Survived by his mother, Mrs. Mary Lynn Maura Briggs

Service & Rank
Air Force, Major  

Unit
162 Tactical Fighter Training Group, Tucson, AZ

Date of Birth
Apr 13, 1937

Date of Death
Jun 19, 1974

Details of Death
Upon returning to Tucson in an F-100 after a passenger drop-off at New Orleans, NAS, Majdor Briggs was cleared for an enroute descent and was observed passing FL310 at 46NM east of Tucson.  He followed vectors from Tucson Approach Control for a landing on runway 29R at Tucson IAP.  Radio handoff to Tower was accomplished when Major Briggs was 6NM from Tucson IAP, southwest of extended centerline, at 8800 ft MSL.  Upon contact with Tucson Tower, he requested a straight-in aproach instead of an overhead pattern for which he had previously been cleared.  He then stated he had a stuck throttle and that he may land short.  The aircraft impacted the ground 5430 feet from the approach end of runway 29R, slightly right of runway centerline at 2012 MST. 

Burial Details
East Lawn Palms Cemetery and Mortuary, Tucson, AZ.

Barrow Stone Location
SW