What happened
During a scheduled mission originating from Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, the flight crew encountered a critical malfunction involving the aircraft's cabin pressurization system. This loss of pressure was triggered by a crack in one of the windows. In response to the depressurization, the pilot initiated an emergency descent and notified ground control regarding the ongoing situation.
While attempting to divert the aircraft to the closest available airfield, the crew determined that they needed to evacuate the plane. The aircraft subsequently crashed in a remote, unpopulated region situated approximately 15 miles west of Yuba City. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. All eight crew members were successfully rescued from the site; however, four individuals sustained injuries during the incident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that a crack in a window led to the failure of the cabin pressurization system.