Overview
A training mission conducted by a crew departing Castle Air Force Base ended in a crash near Tracy, California. The incident resulted in the loss of four crew members, while four others successfully bailed out and were found alive.
Sequence of Events
The crew was performing a training mission when a fire erupted, apparently on the leading edge of the right wing. The fire led to the aircraft crashing in Tracy. Four crew members were able to bail out and were found alive; the remaining four were killed.
Crew
The eight crew members on board were:
- Maj Edward L. Stefanski, pilot (killed)
- Maj Michael Shay, copilot (survived)
- Maj Albert K. Brown, pilot (killed)
- Col Patrick D. Fleming, instructor pilot (killed)
- Cpt James Fredrickson, navigator (killed)
- Maj Harold F. Korger, radar observer (survived)
- Maj Billie M. Beardsley, radio operator (survived)
- M/Sgt Williard Milo Lucy, tail gunner (survived)
Investigation and Probable Cause
According to official findings, the fire is believed to have broken out following an explosion in an electrical power panel located on the alternator deck. The explosion blew off the cover, which then jammed the regulator valve of the left hand forward alternator, disabling the over speed protection and resulting in an over speed failure.