On March 29, 1957, a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (registration 54-2676) operated by The Boeing Company was involved in an aviation accident near Skiatook, United States of America in flight. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of electrical power caused by a malfunctioning constant speed drive led to the loss of control. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A test flight departing from Wichita ended in a fatal accident near Skiatook after the aircraft experienced a loss of electrical power.
What happened
During a scheduled test flight originating from Wichita, an unidentified aircraft encountered a critical failure while operating under negative G-force conditions. The loss of electrical power caused the aircraft to become uncontrollable, leading to a crash in the vicinity of Skiatook, situated approximately 15 miles north of Tulsa.
The accident resulted in three fatalities and left one crew member with injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor was the loss of electrical power. This failure was specifically attributed to a defective constant speed drive within the aircraft's systems.
Probable cause
The loss of electrical power caused by a malfunctioning constant speed drive led to the loss of control.