What happened
During a night flight originating from Altus, Oklahoma, the crew was en route to March Air Force Base near Riverside, California. During the approach phase, air traffic control notified the crew of adverse weather conditions at their intended destination. Consequently, the flight was redirected toward Norton Air Force Base in San Berardino.
While maintaining an altitude of 3,000 feet during the cruise portion of this diversion, the aircraft struck the slope of Mount Box Springs, situated between Riverside and San Bernardino. The impact caused the plane to disintegrate upon hitting the terrain. There were 14 fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft.
Findings
- The flight was diverted from its original destination due to poor weather conditions at March Air Force Base.