What happened
During a local training operation conducted at Loring AFB, the crew was performing a series of touch-and-go maneuvers. As the pilots initiated a subsequent approach, they encountered degraded visibility caused by adverse weather conditions. During this final phase of flight, the aircraft descended below a safe altitude and struck a prairie area situated approximately three miles south of the airbase.
The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. The accident resulted in nine fatalities, as all nine occupants on board were killed during the crash.
Findings
- The flight was operating under poor visibility due to inclement weather.
- The aircraft was positioned at an insufficient altitude during its final approach, leading to the impact with terrain.