No fatalities

Crew Bails Out After Electrical Failure and Fuel Starvation (54-2667)

Cape Canaveral, United States of AmericaFlight

On August 29, 1968, a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (registration 54-2667) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Cape Canaveral, United States of America in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Failure of the electrical 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

Shortly after takeoff from McCoy AFB, an aircraft experienced electrical failure leading to flap issues and fuel starvation. The crew bailed out, and the aircraft crashed near Cape Canaveral. All seven occupants were uninjured.

Incident Overview

Minutes after departing from McCoy Air Force Base in Orlando, the crew of an aircraft encountered technical problems with the flaps. These issues arose when the electrical system failed. The failure subsequently led to fuel starvation, prompting the crew to decide to abandon the aircraft. They bailed out, and the aircraft entered a dive, crashing in a massive explosion near Cape Canaveral. All seven occupants survived without injury.

Technical Malfunctions

The electrical system failure directly impacted the operation of the flaps, creating difficulties for the crew. The loss of electrical power also caused fuel starvation, which rendered continued flight impossible. The precise sequence of events following the electrical failure led to the crew's decision to leave the aircraft.

Evacuation and Crash

After making the decision to abandon the aircraft, the crew successfully bailed out. The unmanned aircraft then dove into the ground, resulting in a large explosion upon impact. The crash site was near Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Occupant Status

All seven individuals on board were uninjured. No injuries or fatalities occurred during the incident.

Official Findings

The probable cause, as stated in the official investigation, was the failure of the electrical system.