Accident
On the day of the accident, the aircraft departed from Minot Air Force Base. During the initial climb, at an altitude between 200 and 300 feet, the airplane entered a stall. It subsequently crashed in a field approximately one mile from the base. The impact produced a massive explosion. The aircraft was completely destroyed, and all six crew members on board were killed.
Crew
The crew consisted of: Maj Byron D. Edmonds (pilot), 1st Lt Kenneth A. Kuhn (copilot), Cpt Gerald J. Walla (navigator), Cpt James C. Jiles (radar navigator), Cpt Richard L. Jones (electronic warfare officer), and T/Sgt Lee A. Gunn (gunner).
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the probable cause was incorrect trim selection, which caused the aircraft to pitch up and down then to stall and crash.