1953-08-05: Convair B-36 Peacemaker (52-1369) — United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) — Atlantic Ocean, World

19 fatalitiesAtlantic Ocean, WorldFlight

An aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean northwest of the United Kingdom following an in-flight engine fire, resulting in 19 total fatalities.

What happened

During a flight positioned approximately 800 km northwest of the British coastline, an engine failure occurred involving an intense fire. The blaze led to a complete loss of control over the aircraft, causing it to descend into the Atlantic Ocean.

Initial rescue efforts successfully recovered six crew members from the wreckage. However, the accident resulted in a significant loss of life, with 17 fatalities recorded immediately following the impact. Following the initial recovery, two of the surviving crew members later succumbed to their injuries, bringing the total death toll to 19.

Findings

Investigations into the crash determined that an engine fire during flight was the primary factor that led to the loss of control and the subsequent impact with the ocean surface.

Probable cause

An engine fire occurred while the aircraft was in flight, leading to a loss of control.