Incident Overview
A Douglas R4D-8 aircraft, operated by the US Navy, was involved in a controlled flight into terrain accident on the island of Agrihan. The aircraft had departed from Andersen Air Force Base on a search-and-rescue (SAR) mission, following the disappearance three days earlier of a US Navy Consolidated PB4Y-2S Privateer that had been completing a meteorological mission in Typhoon Doris.
Crash Details
During the flight, the R4D-8 struck the slope of a volcano located in the center of Agrihan Island. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, resulting in the deaths of all 10 crew members on board. The wreckage was located six days later, on December 26.
Investigation Findings
Investigators determined that, for unknown reasons, the aircraft was flying at an insufficient altitude and the pilots failed to discern the volcano in their path. The official probable cause of the accident was determined to be controlled flight into terrain.