What happened
The incident involved an electronic reconnaissance variant of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, specifically adapted for operations in Arctic environments. The aircraft was conducting a research flight focused on testing a secret missile guidance system that utilized solar tracking for navigation.
During the mission, the pilot executed a low pass over calm water at high speed. As the plane descended from high altitude to skim the surface, the pilot lost depth perception. This error caused the large aircraft to strike the water at approximately 230 mph. The impact was severe enough to shear off three of the four engines, leaving only one attached. The fuselage skipped along the lake surface before coming to a stop.
Once stationary, the aircraft began taking on water and started to sink. The crew of five successfully evacuated into life rafts and waited for rescue. All personnel survived the incident without reported fatalities.
Findings
The wreckage was later located by sonar at a depth of 170 feet. The airframe remained largely intact, with the primary damage being the loss of engines number two, three, and four due to the initial impact with the water surface.