What happened
On the night of November 28, 1952, a C-54G operated by the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) was conducting a flight from Ladd Air Force Base in Alaska to Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. The aircraft was carrying a crew of seven and 32 passengers, consisting of American servicemen and their families. While approaching McChord Air Force Base, the pilot requested weather information and was informed that visibility was approximately three-quarters of a mile.
As the aircraft progressed through its approach, a dense fog bank rose to an altitude of 300 feet, reducing visibility to nearly zero. During the final approach phase, the pilot attempted to increase power to maintain altitude but experienced a failure of the number three engine. Due to the lack of visibility caused by the fog, the crew was unable to see a line of tall Douglas fir trees located north of the airfield. The aircraft struck the tops of two 100-foot trees before impacting an open field near what is now Wards Lake Park in Lakewood.
The impact caused the fuselage to break into two sections and ignited a massive fire. Of the 39 individuals on board, there were only 3 survivors. One crew member and one passenger succumbed to their injuries shortly after the accident, while the remaining passengers and crew members perished in the wreckage. The crash occurred near residential apartment complexes, narrowly avoiding contact with nearby homes.
Findings
An investigation conducted by an Air Force Board of Inquiry identified that the number three engine failure was a primary factor in the accident. While witnesses observed the aircraft's wing or engine on fire prior to impact, the pilot had not reported any mechanical issues to air traffic control before the crash. The presence of thick fog prevented the crew from detecting and avoiding the tree line during the emergency descent.