Accident Overview
Shortly after takeoff from runway 30 at Hamilton AFB in Novato, California, the crew was cleared to climb at their discretion, following heading 360 until reaching 2,600 feet, then heading 340. Seconds later, the aircraft struck trees and crashed on a mountain slope approximately eight miles from the airbase. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and a subsequent post-crash fire.
Casualties and Damage
The accident resulted in one passenger sustaining serious injuries, while 13 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was completely destroyed.
Flight Details
The crew from the 26th Division was completing a flight to Spokane, Washington.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the accident, weather conditions were considered good. There were three cloud layers at 900, 15,000, and 25,000 feet. Visibility was about 8 miles, with a light wind from 340 at 2 knots.
Investigation
Investigators conducted a second flight under similar conditions a few hours later. Despite this, they were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident.