What happened
During a return flight to McClellan Air Force Base following a 19-hour weather reconnaissance mission, an aircraft experienced a critical mechanical failure. While the crew was executing the final approach to the airfield, one of the propellers transitioned into reverse pitch unexpectedly. This malfunction caused the aircraft to become uncontrollable.
The plane struck the ground approximately three miles from the runway, triggering a massive explosion. The impact and subsequent post-crash fire completely destroyed the airframe. There were no survivors among the 10 crew members on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor was a propeller failure that caused the unit to enter reverse pitch during the landing phase.