What happened
During a mission to Korea, a heavy bomber departed from runway 21L at 2200LT. The aircraft was carrying a significant payload of high explosives and a large crew. During the takeoff roll, the propeller on engine number two began to overspeed, prompting the pilot to feather the engine. Shortly after liftoff, the landing gear failed to retract, creating substantial aerodynamic drag.
As the aircraft attempted to climb, the combination of the feathered engine, extended landing gear, and rising terrain prevented a successful ascent. The pilot initiated a 180-degree turn to return to the base. During this maneuver, the aircraft lost altitude and the left wing dipped. The plane struck the ground at approximately 120 mph with the left wing low.
The impact resulted in 12 fatalities among the crew members. Approximately twenty minutes after the initial crash, the onboard high explosives detonated. This secondary explosion caused extensive damage to nearby military and civilian property, including a trailer park. The blast led to further injuries and deaths among personnel on the base, resulting in a total of 180 casualties (including both killed and injured) across the military and civilian population.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing factors:
- Maintenance errors involving the improper reinstallation of propellers on engines two and three, which had been modified without following manufacturer standards.
- Failure to conduct a required test flight following recent electrical system modifications.
- The aircraft was operating above its maximum allowable takeoff weight due to an excessive number of crew members on board.
- Inadequate safety equipment, specifically a lack of sufficient seatbelts for all occupants, which increased the number of injuries during the crash and subsequent blast.