What happened
The incident occurred during a night operation when the aircraft was on final approach to Agana-Harmon Field AFB. The flight had originated from Andersen AFB earlier that evening. As the pilot prepared for landing, heavy rainfall significantly reduced visibility. Due to these poor conditions, the pilot received instructions to execute a go-around maneuver.
During this phase, the aircraft struck treetops. The impact caused damage to engine number one, the left wingtip, and the flaps. Following the collision with the vegetation, the aircraft entered a stall and crashed into the ground shortly before reaching the runway threshold. The impact resulted in a large explosion.
Findings
The accident resulted in significant loss of life and injury. Ten crew members were killed in the crash, while one other member of the crew sustained serious injuries. The primary contributing factor cited was the poor visibility caused by heavy rain during the approach phase.