What happened
A flight departing from Ogden-Hill AFB with the intention of reaching McClellan AFB in Sacramento disappeared during its transit. The aircraft was traveling through eastern California when it failed to reach its scheduled destination. Following the disappearance, search and rescue operations were initiated to locate the missing plane and its occupants. These efforts continued for several days but were ultimately halted after no evidence of the wreckage or the crew could be located.
In May 1951, while a rescue team was engaged in searching for two fishermen, they stumbled upon the debris of the aircraft. The wreckage was found submerged within Lake Independence, situated approximately ten miles northwest of Truckee. No information regarding the specific flight phase at the time of impact was recorded.
Findings
The exact circumstances surrounding the crash remain unknown. While the wreckage was eventually recovered from the lake, the investigation did not establish a definitive reason for the loss of the aircraft.