Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress accident at Mt Table Rock, United States of America, 11 Feb 1943 (42-5367)
On February 11, 1943, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (registration 42-5367) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Table Rock, United States of America in flight. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain. A tailwind of 30 mph may have contributed to a miscalculation of the flight track. 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. A tailwind of 30 mph may have contributed to a miscalculation of the flight track.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
The airplane departed Walla Walla Airport on a navigational training exercise. While cruising in IMC conditions at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Table Rock (1,904 metres high) located 27 km east of Walla Walla. The wreckage was found two days later in deep snow and all 10 occupants were killed. Crew: 2nd Lt John T. Ray, pilot, 2nd Lt Richard H. Reed, copilot, 2nd Lt David I. Dunning, navigator, T/Sgt Alexander R. Dec, flight engineer, S/Sgt Lloyd L. Ball, assistant flight engineer, S/Sgt Milton D. Johnson Jr., radio operator, S/Sgt Claude W. Seifert Jr., radio operator, 2nd Lt Hans L. Lehne, bombardier, S/Sgt Wilmer C. Fankhanel, air gunner, S/Sgt Joseph F. Perkins, air gunner.
Probable cause (official findings): Controlled flight into terrain. A tailwind of 30 mph may have contributed to a miscalculation of the flight track.