Background
The flight originated from McChord Air Force Base near Tacoma, Washington, where Corporal Lloyd Timmons, a hitchhiker, joined the crew. The aircraft proceeded northward but encountered radio difficulties that necessitated a return to McChord. After the issue was resolved, the crew departed again for their first fuel stop at Annette Island, near Ketchikan, Alaska, en route to the final destination of Anchorage, Alaska.
Diversion to Gustavus
High winds and severe turbulence prevented a landing at Annette Island. The crew was offered a choice: return to a Canadian airport behind them or continue north to Gustavus, where runway lights and instrument landing equipment provided better facilities for night landings than even Juneau at the time. The weather at Gustavus was reported as "clear and no winds" to "very slight winds." The crew elected to proceed to Gustavus. Although the California-based pilot was well-trained in multi-engine instrument approaches, he was relatively inexperienced with Alaskan conditions.
Approach and Crash
As the aircraft approached Gustavus, it was dark and beginning to snow. Passengers realized they had arrived in the Gustavus area, momentarily spotting lights through the dark and snow. The fuel supply was very low, eliminating options to return to Annette or proceed to Anchorage. The captain was reluctant to make the standard instrument approach, which would have required flying well beyond the airfield over Glacier Bay with critically low fuel. On the third pass over the airport area during a snow squall, the pilot attempted a short visual approach to keep the airfield in sight. According to passenger Harry S. Aase, "The pilot was in line for the runway, but got a bit low and the right wing caught a tall tree that made the aircraft start to spin and (it) nosed into the ground."
Damage and Casualties
The front of the aircraft was badly damaged. As the plane twisted, the tail slowly lowered into the trees, which cushioned the impact. The fuselage from the wall aft remained in near-perfect condition. All four crew members were killed: Captain Robert E. Kafader, 1st Lieutenant Dennis V. Stamey, Staff Sergeant Floyd S. Porter, and Staff Sergeant David A. Dial. The seven passengers were injured: Corporal Lloyd Timmons, 2nd Lieutenant Harry S. Aase, Captain Robert D. Ellis, Warrant Officer Richard J. Mueller, Master Sergeant James E. O'Rourke, 1st Lieutenant Wallace J. Harrison, and 2nd Lieutenant William W. Caldwell.