Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress accident at Mt Sierra Grande, United States of America, 17 Oct 1942 (41-9055)
On October 17, 1942, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (registration 41-9055) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Sierra Grande, United States of America in flight. 11 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain after the airplane deviated from the prescribed route due to an unfavorable wind component. The crew sent a position report, indicating that they were 15 miles southwest of Garden City, Kansas. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Probable cause
Controlled flight into terrain after the airplane deviated from the prescribed route due to an unfavorable wind component. The crew sent a position report, indicating that they were 15 miles southwest of Garden City, Kansas. But Garden City did not receive the radio report. In fact, the message was heard by the station at La Junta, Colorado, which did not reply, as they thought the message was intended for the other station. Unaware of their actual position, the crew were off course and flying 175 miles further to the west than intended. The accident was due to a navigational error, caused by a failure of the crew to compensate the strong easterly wind component, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain. The lack of visibility was considered as a contributing factor.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
The airplane departed Rapid City AAF in the early morning on a flight to Kelly AFB, San Antonio, TX. There were 11 crew members on board. While cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet in limited visibility, the airplane impacted the north slope of Mt Sierra Grande (2,661 metres high) located 7 km southwest of Des Moines, NM. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 11 occupants were killed. Crew: 1st Lt Paul D. Cunningham Jr., pilot, 2nd Lt Charles W. Mann, copilot, S/Sgt Joseph C. Lynch, flight engineer, S/Sgt Ward Murie, assistant flight engineer, 2nd Lt Robert S. Connor Jr., navigator, S/Sgt Emery F. Herzog, radio operator, Sgt Milton Lakin, assistant radio operator, 2nd Lt Lawrence W. Hunter, bombardier, Avc Edward W. Larson, student bombardier. Sgt Jerome A. Krzmarzick, air gunner, S/Sgt William R. Patton.
Probable cause (official findings): Controlled flight into terrain after the airplane deviated from the prescribed route due to an unfavorable wind component. The crew sent a position report, indicating that they were 15 miles southwest of Garden City, Kansas. But Garden City did not receive the radio report. In fact, the message was heard by the station at La Junta, Colorado, which did not reply, as they thought the message was intended for the other station. Unaware of their actual position, the crew were off course and flying 175 miles further to the west than intended. The accident was due to a navigational error, caused by a failure of the crew to compensate the strong easterly wind component, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain. The lack of visibility was considered as a contributing factor.