What happened
The aircraft was operating a scheduled flight from Laurinburg-Maxton AFB to Godman AFB near Louisville, Kentucky. Shortly after departure, while climbing at an altitude of approximately 300 feet, the pilot observed another Douglas C-53 towing a glider directly ahead in the flight path.
To avoid a mid-air collision, the captain executed a sharp turn to the left. The evasive maneuver was too abrupt for the aircraft's current speed and configuration, causing it to enter an uncontrolled spin. The plane subsequently crashed into the ground, resulting in a significant explosion. All 25 occupants on board were killed in the accident.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the crash resulted from a loss of control. This loss of control was directly caused by the evasive action taken during the initial climb phase to avoid the other aircraft.