Accident Overview
A aircraft departing Ramey Air Force Base in Aguadilla crashed shortly after takeoff. While climbing to an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane unexpectedly adopted a nose-down attitude and plunged into the sea off Jobos Beach. The aircraft was destroyed in the impact.
Casualties and Survivors
Of the seven crew members on board, three successfully bailed out before the crash and were found alive. The other four crew members were killed. The deceased were identified as Captain Donald Foster (pilot), Captain Erwin Cowart (copilot), 1st Lieutenant Paul Grimm (navigator), and 1st Lieutenant Richard St. George (Electronic Warfare Officer). Survivors included Captain Taivo Patajan (navigator), Staff Sergeant Leroy Spencer (crew chief), and Technical Sergeant Ronald Hagis (gunner).
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that a life raft stowed behind the copilot inflated during the initial climb. This inflation pushed the copilot forward into the control column, causing the aircraft to pitch nose-down and subsequently crash.