Incident Overview
A flight from Bedford, Massachusetts, to Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, New York, experienced an engine failure en route. The five occupants—two crew members and three passengers—abandoned the aircraft and bailed out. After the occupants exited, the aircraft continued flying on autopilot for approximately one hour before crashing into Lake Ontario off the coast of Oswego.
Occupants
The crew consisted of pilot Lt Col Charles A. Callahan and co-pilot Lt Sam Sharff. Passengers were Lt Col G. S. Lambert, William P. Bethke, and Joseph M. Eannario. All five individuals were unhurt following the bailout.
Aircraft and Recovery
The aircraft was written off due to the crash. It was later recovered from Lake Ontario in 2014.
Official Findings
The probable cause of the accident, as determined by the official investigation, was engine failure.