During a seven-hour training flight returning to Randolph Air Force Base (AFB), the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. While approaching the airfield at an altitude of 8,000 feet, the pilot disconnected the automatic pilot system and continued flying on instruments through an overcast. Shortly thereafter, the pilot reported a loss of all flight instruments, and the aircraft became uncontrollable.
Five crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion approximately 10 miles southeast of Randolph AFB. The six crew members on board were killed. Those killed were: Captain L. H. Calkins (navigator), First Lieutenant Robert L. Wilson (copilot), Second Lieutenant James E. Shaw (radio observer), Staff Sergeant Roderick A. Howey (central gunner), Corporal Ernest Bennett (right gunner), and Corporal Donald J. Cameron (tail gunner).
The accident site was located about 10 miles southeast of the base. The explosion upon impact was described as huge. The aircraft was destroyed.