What happened
During a night flight departing from McChord AFB destined for Lawton, Oklahoma, a four-engine transport aircraft crashed approximately two miles south of the airfield. The aircraft was transporting military equipment, including a truck, multiple jeeps, and two trailers, along with personnel from Fort Sill who were returning from Exercise Lava Plains at the Yakima Firing Center.
While the flight was climbing to an altitude of 500 feet, the plane became uncontrollable and struck a wooded area, where it caught fire. The impact and subsequent fire resulted in 18 fatalities and left four others injured. The aircraft was completely destroyed during the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that a ruptured fuel line led to an engine failure during the takeoff phase. Official records confirmed that the total weight of the aircraft remained below its maximum takeoff weight at the time of the incident.