What happened
During a local training flight departing from Hunter AFB, two heavy bombers belonging to the USAF were involved in a mid-air collision. The aircraft involved included a B-50 with registration 48-073 and another B-50 identified by registration 48-089.
Following the impact, the crew operating the 48-073 managed to perform an emergency landing safely. However, the second aircraft, 48-089, went down in a field situated approximately six miles east of Hunter AFB. The crash resulted in nine fatalities, as all crew members on board the downed bomber were killed.
Findings
- The incident occurred during a routine training sortie.
- A mid-air collision between two aircraft was the primary event leading to the loss of the aircraft.