Accident Overview
A heavy bomber aircraft, carrying twenty crew members and a load of high explosive devices, crashed shortly after takeoff from Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base. The accident occurred five minutes into the flight, with the aircraft hitting the ground at approximately 120 miles per hour.
Flight Details
The aircraft was cleared for takeoff from runway 21L at 2200 hours local time, with a wind of 17 knots from the southwest. A full power check was performed, and the brakes were released for takeoff. Just prior to liftoff, the number two engine propeller malfunctioned, and the aircraft commander ordered it feathered. After liftoff, the landing gear failed to retract, creating increased drag due to the feathered propeller and extended gear. The rising terrain ahead and to the left, combined with the aircraft's inability to climb, led the aircraft commander to execute a 180-degree turn back toward the base. During the turn, the left wing became difficult to hold level, and the commander allowed the aircraft to slide left to avoid a trailer court. A crash landing was imminent at an altitude of only a few feet.
Crash and Fatalities
The aircraft struck the ground left wing down. All ten crew members in the rear compartment suffered fatal injuries. In the forward compartment, Brigadier General Robert F. Travis, acting as second pilot, and one passenger received fatal injuries. The pilot, Captain Eugene Q. Steffes, was at the controls. Twelve crew members in total sustained fatal injuries, while eight others were injured.
Post-Crash Explosion
Approximately twenty minutes after the crash, the high explosives in the bomb casing ignited. The blast was felt and heard over 30 miles away, causing severe damage to a nearby trailer park on the base. In addition to casualties from the initial impact, 180 military personnel, civilians, and dependents were killed or injured due to the explosion. Specifically, seven people were killed, 49 were admitted to the hospital, and 124 received superficial injuries.
Investigation Findings
Investigations revealed technical anomalies in the electrical system shortly before takeoff and that the crew did not properly follow the pre-flight checklist. The propellers on engines two and three had been reinstalled against manufacturer standards. Five days prior, technicians had performed maintenance on these propellers, modifying switches. For unknown reasons, the propellers were not correctly adjusted on the engine axis, causing overspeeding. After any modification, Curtiss Electric engines require a test flight, which was not performed. Additionally, the aircraft carried an excessive number of crew members, exceeding the maximum takeoff weight, and lacked sufficient seatbelts—only a few crew members were properly restrained, contributing to the high casualty count. It was recommended that future operations limit crew to 16.
Aftermath
Following the catastrophe, Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base was renamed in honor of Brigadier General Robert F. Travis. The crew list included General Travis and Captain Steffes, among others.