Accident
A U.S. Air Force training aircraft crashed into Lake Michigan off the coast of Charlevoix, Michigan, during a night low-level route training mission originating from Westover Air Force Base. The airplane went out of control and descended into the lake under circumstances that remain unclear. Search teams recovered only a limited amount of debris; the main wreckage was never found.
Crew
All nine individuals on board were killed. The flight crew comprised pilot Major Gerald W. Black, copilot First Lieutenant Dennis Ferguson, navigators Lieutenant Colonel John M. Somonfy Jr., Lieutenant Colonel William Lemmon, Captain John E. Weaver, and Captain Joel G. Hirsh, electronic warfare officers Major Donald F. Rosseau and First Lieutenant Douglas Bachman, and aerial gunner Technical Sergeant Jerry M. Achey.
Investigation
The official investigation concluded that the cause of the accident could not be determined due to the lack of physical evidence. The absence of substantial wreckage prevented investigators from establishing a definitive sequence of events or identifying any specific mechanical or human factors.