What happened
On September 24, 1955, a military cargo flight departed Honolulu, Hawaii, en route to Wake Island as part of a larger journey from Travis Air Force Base, California, to Tokyo, Japan. The aircraft type was not specified by registration, but the mission involved transporting 15,333 pounds of cargo. After an uneventende arrival in Honolulu on September 23, the aircraft was refueled and prepared for its next leg under instrument flight rules, maintaining an altitude of 8,000 feet.
During the flight, the crew provided regular position and fuel updates to air traffic control. However, at 0633, the flight crew declared an emergency with Wake Island Air Route Traffic Center, reporting that three engines had lost power and that they were unable to return to Honolulu. At approximately 0641, the aircraft ditched in the ocean at coordinates 20 degrees 20' N. latitude and 175 degrees 45' W. longitude.
Following the loss of contact, an extensive search operation involving air and sea assets was launched. On September 25, a vessel named SS Steel Advocate located two survivors, the pilot and the copilot, who were wearing life jackets. The mission resulted in 3 fatalities, as the crew reported that one navigator perished with the aircraft while the first officer and another navigator died in the water.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that weather conditions and navigation errors were not contributing factors. At the time of the ditching, the area experienced 4 to 6 foot swells under scattered clouds, but no rain was present. The aircraft had sufficient fuel to complete its journey to Wake Island.
- The primary cause was the loss of power in three engines caused by improper management of the fuel system.
- Specifically, fuel selectors were positioned over tanks that were empty or nearly depleted.
- Attempts to restart the engines failed due to the use of incorrect techniques regarding the fuel selector controls.