7 fatalities

Aircraft crash in Gulf of Mexico during training exercise (44-61538)

Tarpon Springs, United States of AmericaFlight

On May 1, 1952, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress (registration 44-61538) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Tarpon Springs, United States of America in flight. 7 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed into the Gulf of Mexico during a low-level target practice mission, resulting in seven fatalities.

What happened

During a low-level target training exercise, an aircraft went down in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The accident occurred at a location approximately 27 miles west-northwest of Tarpon Springs. While the specific circumstances surrounding the impact remain undetermined, the aircraft crashed into the sea during its mission.

Search and rescue operations following the incident resulted in the recovery of seven individuals. However, the crash led to seven fatalities among the personnel on board.

Findings

At this time, the exact cause of the accident has not been established, as the aircraft crashed under unknown circumstances.