Summary
A United States Air Force aircraft on a night training flight departed March AFB, California. While cruising at low altitude to simulate an aerial attack, the aircraft struck a sand dune and subsequently crashed in a prairie several miles west of Las Animas. The crash resulted in a huge explosion, and all eight crew members aboard were killed.
Accident Details
The flight was conducted at night, with the crew tasked to perform a low-altitude simulation of an aerial attack. During the evening, while the aircraft was operating at low altitude over a prairie area west of Las Animas, it impacted a sand dune. The collision caused a massive explosion, destroying the aircraft and killing all crew members on board.
Crew
The deceased crew members were identified as Captain James L. MacGregor (pilot), Captain Gani Aydoner (copilot), Captain Clifford R. Duane, 1st Lieutenant Kendall E. Wallace, Captain Stanley H. Eddleman, S/A Timothy E. McFarland, Airman 1st Class Bruce E. Schaefer, and Airman 1st Class David W. Smith.