Incident
The crew departed Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, for a training mission. While cruising at night, they encountered an unexpected situation described as unknown technical problems. The crew decided to abandon the aircraft. The aircraft subsequently crashed into a canyon at Hunts Mesa, located approximately 13 miles northeast of Kayenta, Arizona. The aircraft disintegrated on impact. Two crew members were killed in the accident, and five others were rescued.
Crew
The crew manifest included seven individuals: Captain Robert L. Keeney (pilot), Lieutenant Douglas J. Schwartz (copilot), Lieutenant Kenneth O. Portis (navigator), Major Eugene J. Daspit (radio navigator), Captain Sean M. Yeronick (electronic warfare officer), Colonel William L. Ivy (observer), and Sergeant David W. Felix (air gunner). According to the source, two crew members were killed, with Sergeant Felix listed among the deceased.
Location
The crash site was in a canyon at Hunts Mesa, about 13 miles northeast of Kayenta, Arizona. The region is characterized by rugged terrain.
Aftermath
Rescue operations resulted in the recovery of five surviving crew members. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact. The source did not specify further details about the nature of the technical problems.