1 fatality

One Fatality After Parachute Failure Following Engine Failure During Training Flight (44-62215)

Flushing, United States of AmericaFlight

On December 22, 1951, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress (registration 44-62215) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Flushing, United States of America in flight. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure. 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

Eight crew members bailed out of a training aircraft after an engine failure over Michigan. Seven survived, but one died due to a parachute malfunction. The aircraft crashed near Flushing.

Accident Overview

The aircraft was operating a training flight from Minneapolis to Griffiss Air Force Base when an engine malfunction occurred. The crew declared an emergency and decided to abandon the aircraft. All eight occupants bailed out. The unmanned aircraft subsequently entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field located one mile southeast of Flushing, Michigan.

Evacuation and Casualties

Seven of the eight crew members parachuted to safety and were evacuated from the crash site. The eighth occupant's parachute failed to open, resulting in death upon ground impact.

Probable Cause

The official probable cause of the accident was engine failure. No other contributing factors were identified in the investigation.