What happened
On 29 June 1964, two US Air Force aircraft were conducting a joint mission near Kindley Air Base, Bermuda. The mission combined pararescue training for the NASA Gemini program—specifically practicing the deployment of flotation collars on space capsules—with an aerial photography assignment. The flight involved a Douglas HC-54 (serial number 42-72590) and a Boeing HC-97 (serial number 52-2773).
The aircraft departed at 11:05 and 11:10 local time, respectively. Due to scattered cloud layers between 2,000 and 2,500 feet, the crews elected to conduct operations at an altitude of 1,700 feet. The mission involved deploying pararescuemen into the water while photographers on both aircraft and in support boats captured the event.
During the execution of right-hand flight patterns, the aircraft transitioned positions. Following a dry run, two personnel deployed from the Boeing HC-97. Shortly thereafter, the Douglas HC-54 banked to the right and struck the midsection or wing of the other aircraft. The impact sheared off the wing and tail section of the Boeing HC-97, causing both planes to crash into the sea. Despite immediate search efforts by three nearby boats, there were 0 survivors.
Findings
While investigators could not reach a definitive conclusion regarding the primary cause, they identified the incapacitation of the HC-54 pilot as the most likely factor. Post-mortem examinations indicated that the pilot had suffered from cardiovascular issues that may have resulted in acute chest pain during the flight.