What happened
During a scheduled training mission departing from Biggs AAF, a B-52 bomber, known as 'Ciudad Juarez', participated in simulated combat maneuvers alongside two F-100A Super Sabre fighters. The exercise involved several simulated missile passes and gun attacks. As the safety officer of the 188th performed a final Sidewinder practice maneuver, he closed distance with the bomber.
During this phase of flight, the aircraft's second AIM-9B missile unexpectedly detached from its rail. Instead of completing the intended training profile, the missile tracked toward the left inboard engine pod of the B-52, where it detonated. The explosion caused severe structural damage, effectively severing the wing of the heavy bomber.
Following the impact, the aircraft lost stability and entered an uncontrollable dive. While three crew members managed to successfully eject from the plane, the remaining six fatalities occurred when the aircraft struck Mount Taylor. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the unintended activation and separation of an AIM-9B missile from its launch rail during a training maneuver, which subsequently struck the bomber's engine pod.