What happened
During a night-time training sortie departing from Walker AFB, an aircraft experienced a structural failure when the tail section detached while flying through turbulent conditions. Following the separation of the tail, four members of the crew successfully utilized ejection seats to escape the aircraft.
The remaining portion of the plane subsequently crashed into the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range, specifically in an area located approximately 10 miles northwest of Mora. The accident resulted in two fatalities among the crew members on board.
Findings
- The primary cause of the structural failure was identified as severe turbulence encountered during the flight phase.
- The separation of the tail section led to the loss of control and the subsequent crash into mountainous terrain.