What happened
During a mission traveling from Sioux City toward Ogden-Hill AFB, Utah, the flight crew mistakenly identified their destination as Ogden-Hinckley Municipal Airport instead of the intended Ogden-Hill Airbase. Upon attempting to land at the municipal facility, the heavy bomber touched down on a runway that was insufficient for its size and weight.
The momentum of the aircraft caused it to overshoot the landing strip, subsequently striking a drainage ditch approximately 10 feet wide. The trajectory continued across a highway, where the aircraft eventually came to a halt in a fire. The accident resulted in one fatality among the crew and left six others injured. The impact and subsequent flames led to the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the primary factor was an error by the flight crew, who failed to distinguish between the two nearby airfields during their approach.