Accident Sequence
The crew initiated descent to Fairchild AFB, and the pilot-in-command executed a right turn to join the approach path for runway 23. Weather conditions at the time were good, with visibility of 25 miles and few clouds at 1,000 feet. The four-engine aircraft descended too low, struck trees, and crashed in a wooded area on the slope of Mount Kit Carson, which rises to 1,320 meters. The crash site was located 30 miles northeast of Fairchild AFB.
Impact and Aftermath
The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire. All 44 occupants on board were killed.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was a wrong approach configuration, attributed to a miscalculation on the part of the flight engineer.