What happened
The incident occurred during a nighttime departure from Truscott airstrip. The aircraft became airborne approximately halfway down the runway, an event attributed to a noticeable hump in the strip that caused a sudden climb of roughly 20 feet. Witnesses, who were part of a working party positioned directly ahead of the aircraft, observed the plane veer to the left while moving slowly and gaining minimal speed or altitude. After rising to a height of about 40 feet, the aircraft descended sharply and impacted the ground a short distance from its initial takeoff point.
Fire crews responded rapidly to the scene, but rescue efforts were thwarted when the depth charges carried by the aircraft exploded. This secondary event eliminated any possibility of finding survivors among the ten-person crew of the 12th Squadron.
Findings
The premature lift-off was linked to the physical condition of the runway surface, specifically a hump that induced an abrupt climb. The presence of live ordnance on board contributed significantly to the severity of the outcome, as the resulting explosions prevented effective rescue operations.