What happened
Shortly after departing from Elmendorf Air Force Base, an aircraft operated by the 508th Air Refueling Squadron was cruising at an altitude of 4,200 feet. Approximately nineteen minutes into the flight, the crew notified air traffic control of a collision with Mount Bald, situated roughly 11 miles east of Talkeetna.
Upon impact with the mountain, the aircraft's substantial fuel load triggered a massive explosion. The force of the crash and subsequent fire completely destroyed the plane. There were eight fatalities among the crew members on board, with no survivors reported from the wreckage.
Findings
- The aircraft was carrying a full load of fuel at the time of the accident.
- The collision occurred while the flight was in the cruise phase of operation.