Aircraft Disintegration and Crash Near Alpena (61-0296)

Incident Overview and Route Details A four-engine aircraft departed from Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB in the early morning, with Oscoda-Wurtsmith Airport as its intended destination. During the flight, the aircraft experienced a catastrophic failure, partially disintegrated in the air, and entered a dive. The wreckage was found in a wooded area located 12.5 miles southwest of Alpena. The incident resulted in the deaths of 15 occupants, while five others were rescued. ## Official Investigation Findings The official investigation concluded that the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the possibility that the aircraft partially disintegrated in the air following a cabin pressurization problem was not ruled out.