What happened
During a combat mission targeting Pyongyang, a B-29 Superfortress came under heavy anti-aircraft fire. The engagement resulted in direct hits to the aircraft's third and fourth engines, which subsequently ignited. Following the engine fires, the plane entered a steep descent toward the ground.
In the moments preceding the impact, four members of the crew successfully exited the aircraft via bailout. However, the remaining nine occupants were unable to escape before the aircraft crashed into the terrain. The four individuals who survived the crash were subsequently taken as prisoners of war.
Findings
Investigations into the loss of the aircraft concluded that the primary reason for the crash was that the plane was struck by enemy anti-aircraft fire, which disabled critical propulsion components and led to an uncontrollable descent.