What happened
During a nighttime approach to Topham Airfield on Canton Island, Kiribati, the pilot executed a final turn to align with the approach path. The aircraft subsequently stalled and impacted the water surface several hundred meters offshore. This accident resulted in the deaths of 18 occupants, while three other individuals were successfully rescued from the sea.
The flight was being operated by a United Airlines crew on behalf of the Air Transport Command (ATC). The passenger manifest included military personnel ranging from Colonel to Sergeant rank, as well as an airman. No specific aircraft registration is provided in the available source records.
Findings
Official investigations into the incident suggested that asymmetric flap deployment may have been a contributing factor to the stall and subsequent crash.