What happened
During a scheduled ten-hour radar-calibration training flight, a B-29 trainer conversion aircraft operated by the 5040th Radar Evaluation Squadron crashed into an unnamed glacier. The crew, based out of Elmendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage, was navigating south through the Susitna Valley when they encountered severe weather conditions.
While attempting to complete the mission, the flight drifted approximately 27 miles away from its intended path, entering the Talkeetna Mountains region. At 1822 local time, the aircraft struck a glacier at an altitude of 5,600 feet. The impact occurred roughly 39 miles southeast of Talkeetna, situated just northeast of Hatcher Pass.
The accident resulted in six fatalities and left four injured crew members.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the aircraft had deviated significantly from its planned course toward Elmendorf. The primary reason for the deviation was a combination of deteriorating weather conditions and pilot error.