What happened
During a scheduled navigational training flight involving four similar aircraft, a B-52 heavy bomber experienced a catastrophic loss of control. The mission began at Castle AFB, and approximately three and a half hours after takeoff, the aircraft began an uncontrolled descent.
The plane plummeted into a grain field situated roughly eight miles west of Gridley. Upon hitting the ground, the aircraft disintegrated. There were no survivors among the 12 fatalities on board the aircraft.
Findings
Official investigations into the crash concluded that the specific reason for the aircraft's loss of control could not be determined.