What happened
During a flight departing from Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, the aircraft experienced a critical mechanical issue shortly after takeoff. While the plane was in its initial climb phase, the crew identified an engine failure and communicated the emergency to air traffic control.
In an attempt to manage the situation, the pilot requested authorization to perform an emergency landing back at the airfield. However, during this maneuver, the aircraft became uncontrollable. The plane subsequently crashed in the vicinity of Belton, located approximately two miles southeast of the base. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and caused seven fatalities among the crew members on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor leading to the loss of control was an engine failure occurring during the climb.