What happened
While operating under conditions of restricted visibility, the crew of a four-engine aircraft initiated a descent toward Cold Bay. During this approach, the plane collided with the side of the Pavlof Volcano, situated approximately 36 miles northeast of its destination. The impact caused the aircraft to break apart upon hitting the terrain.
At the time of the accident, the flight was traveling from McChord AFB. The mission involved transporting seven tons of specialized equipment intended for the Optical Satellite Observing System. There were seven fatalities among the crew members on board.
Findings
Preliminary assessments suggest that the crew began their descent earlier than required, leading to the collision with the volcanic slope.