Incident Overview
During a high-altitude cruise, a fuel leak was detected in the right wing of an aircraft. The crew decided to divert to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base for a safe landing. However, during the final approach, the right wing detached from the aircraft. The airplane subsequently crashed in a field approximately 12 miles from the runway threshold, resulting in a large explosion.
Casualties and Bomb Recovery
The crash resulted in three crew members being killed and five others injured. The aircraft was carrying two Mark 39 thermonuclear bombs at the time of the accident. Both bombs were later recovered from the crash site.
Crew Members
The crew consisted of:
- Maj Walter S. Tulloch, pilot
- Cpt Richard W. Hardin, copilot
- Maj Eugene Shelton, radio navigator
- Cpt Paul E. Brown, navigator (†)
- 1st Lt William H. Wilson, Electronics Warfare Officer
- Maj Eugene H. Richards, Electronics Warfare Instructor (†)
- 1st Lt Adam C. Mattocks, pilot (†)
- T/Sgt Francis R. Barnish, air gunner
Those marked with † were among the deceased.
Declassification
In 2013, documents and information relating to this accident were declassified by the U.S. Government.
Probable Cause
Official findings stated the probable cause as a fuel leak in flight.