What happened
The incident occurred shortly after the aircraft departed Ellsworth Air Force Base. While executing the initial climb phase of flight, the machine lost control and descended rapidly. It impacted a prairie situated approximately five miles north of the airfield. The collision resulted in a massive explosion that destroyed the airframe.
All 17 occupants aboard were killed in the accident. There were no survivors reported from the event.
Findings
The official investigation determined that the primary factor leading to the loss of control was an engine failure occurring during the initial climb segment. This mechanical issue prevented the aircraft from maintaining safe flight parameters, ultimately causing the crash.