Robert F . Overmyer Robert Franklyn Overmyer ( July 14 , 1936 – March 22 , 1996 ) was an American test pilot , Colonel in the United States Marine Corps and NASA astronaut . He was born in Lorain , Ohio , but considered Westlake , Ohio his hometown . Overmyer was selected by the United States Air Force as an astronaut for its Manned Orbiting Laboratory in 1966 . Upon cancellation of this program in 1969 , he became a NASA astronaut and served support crew duties for the Skylab program and Apollo - Soyuz Test Project . In 1976 , he was assigned to the Space Shuttle program , and flew as Pilot on one 1982 mission and as Commander on a second in 1985 . He was selected as a lead investigator into the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster , and retired from NASA in 1986 . Early life . Overmyer graduated from Westlake High School , Westlake , Ohio , in 1954 . He received a bachelor of science degree in physics from Baldwin Wallace College in 1958 and a master of science degree in Aeronautics with a major in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1964 . Marine Corps and early NASA career . Overmyer entered active duty with the Marine Corps in January 1958 . After completing Navy flight training in Kingsville , Texas , he was assigned to VMA - 214 in November 1959 . Overmyer was assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School in 1962 to study aeronautical engineering . Upon completion of his graduate studies , he served one year with Marine Maintenance Squadron 17 at MCAS Iwakuni , Japan . He was then assigned to the U . S . Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base , California . Colonel Overmyer was chosen as an astronaut for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory ( MOL ) Program in 1966 . Colonel Overmyer logged over 7 , 500 flight hours , with over 6 , 000 in jet aircraft . The MOL program was canceled in 1969 , and soon afterward Overmyer was selected as a NASA astronaut . His first assignment with NASA was engineering development duties on the Skylab Program from 1969 to 1971 . From 1971 to 1972 , he was a support crew member for Apollo 17 and was the launch capsule communicator . From 1973 to 1975 , he was a support crew member for the Apollo - Soyuz Test Project and was the NASA capsule communicator ( CAPCOM ) in the mission control center in Moscow . In 1976 , he was assigned duties on the Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests ( ALT ) Program and was the prime T - 38 Talon chase pilot for Orbiter Free - Flights 1 and 3 . In 1979 Colonel Overmyer was assigned as the Deputy Vehicle Manager of OV - 102 ( " Columbia " ) in charge of finishing the manufacturing and tiling of " Columbia " at the Kennedy Space Center preparing it for its first flight . This assignment lasted until " Columbia " was transported to the launch pad in 1980 . Shuttle career . Colonel Overmyer was the pilot for STS - 5 , the first fully operational flight of the Shuttle Transportation System , which launched from Kennedy Space Center , Florida , on November 11 , 1982 . He was accompanied by spacecraft commander Vance D . Brand and two mission specialists , Dr . Joseph P . Allen and Dr . William B . Lenoir . STS - 5 , the first mission with a four - man crew , clearly demonstrated the Space Shuttle as fully operational by the successful first deployment of two commercial communications satellites from the Orbiter ’ s payload bay . The mission marked the first use of the Payload Assist Module ( PAM - D ) , and its new ejection system . Numerous flight tests were performed throughout the mission to document Shuttle performance during launch , boost , orbit , atmospheric entry and landing phases . STS - 5 was the last flight to carry the Development Flight Instrumentation ( DFI ) package to support flight testing . A Getaway Special , three Student Involvement Projects and medical experiments were included on the mission . The STS - 5 crew successfully concluded the 5 - day orbital flight of " Columbia " with the first entry and landing through a cloud deck to a hard - surface runway and demonstrated maximum braking . Mission duration was 122 hours before landing on a concrete runway at Edwards Air Force Base , California , on November 16 , 1982 . Colonel Overmyer was the commander of STS - 51 - B , the Spacelab - 3 ( SL - 3 ) mission . He commanded a crew of four astronauts and two payload specialists conducting a broad range of scientific experiments from space physics to the suitability of animal holding facilities . Mission 51 - B was also the first Shuttle flight to launch a small payload from the " Getaway Special " canisters . Mission 51 - B launched at 12 : 02 p . m . EDT on April 29 , 1985 from Kennedy Space Center , Florida , and landed at Edwards Air Force Base , California , at 9 : 11 a . m . PDT on May 6 , 1985 . Mission 51 - B completed 110 orbits of the earth at an altitude of 190 n . m . Colonel Overmyer retired from NASA and the Marine Corps in May 1986 . Also in 1986 , Overmyer was one of NASA ' s lead investigators into the " Challenger " Disaster . Personal life . Overmyer was a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots , Experimental Aircraft Association , and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association . His hobbies included skiing , water skiing , boating , aerobatic flying in open cockpit biplanes , coaching baseball , and running . Death . Overmyer died on March 22 , 1996 , in Duluth , Minnesota , in the crash of a Cirrus VK - 30 , a light aircraft he was testing . He was survived by his wife , Katherine , and three children . Honors . Overmyer was awarded the Air Force Meritorious Service Medal in 1969 for duties with the USAF Manned Orbiting Laboratory Program ; awarded the Marine Corps Meritorious Service Medal in 1978 for duties as the Chief Chase Pilot and support crewman for the Shuttle Approach and Landing Test Program ; received an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree from Baldwin Wallace College , December 1982 ; awarded the U . S . Naval Postgraduate School Distinguished Engineers Award , January 1983 ; the Distinguished Flying Cross ( 1983 ) ; and the NASA Space Flight Medal ( 1983 ) .