No fatalities

Crew Ejects After Hydraulic System Fire During Mission from Castle AFB (52-0009)

Tranquility, United States of AmericaFlight

On February 7, 1964, a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (registration 52-0009) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Tranquility, United States of America in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: In-flight fire in the hydraulic system. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A crew of seven ejected from their aircraft after a fire erupted in the hydraulic system during cruising altitude. The aircraft crashed in a rice field in Tranquility; all crew members survived, but the aircraft was destroyed.

Incident Overview

A crew of seven was engaged in a mission departing from Castle Air Force Base (AFB). While the aircraft was at cruising altitude, a fire erupted in the hydraulic system. All seven crew members ejected and abandoned the aircraft.

Sequence of Events

The aircraft, after the crew ejected, dove into the ground and crashed in a rice field located in Tranquility. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft.

Aftermath

All seven crew members were found alive following the incident. The aircraft was destroyed beyond repair.

Probable Cause

According to official findings, the probable cause of the accident was an in-flight fire in the hydraulic system.