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19 fatalities

Four-Engine Aircraft Crash on Mount Tobin (50850)

Mt Tobin, United States of AmericaFlight

On January 10, 1968, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration 50850) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Tobin, United States of America in flight. 19 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: It is believed the accident was not the consequence of icing conditions but a loss of control caused by atmospheric downdrafts. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A four-engine aircraft crashed into Mount Tobin after reporting altitude and icing issues. All 19 occupants were killed. The official investigation attributed the loss of control to atmospheric downdrafts rather than icing.

Incident Overview and Timeline During a flight from Buckley AFB in Denver to Seattle, a four-engine aircraft was cruising at 12,000 feet when the navigator reported to air traffic control (ATC) that the aircraft was experiencing difficulty maintaining its assigned altitude. ATC subsequently cleared the aircraft to descend to 10,500 feet. Minutes later, the copilot reported icing conditions to ATC and requested permission to climb. Approximately 20 minutes after that exchange, while cruising at 10,000 feet in marginal weather, the aircraft struck the slope of Mount Tobin, which has an elevation of 2,980 meters. The wreckage was located several hours later approximately 300 meters below the summit. All 19 occupants on board were killed in the accident.

Probable cause

It is believed the accident was not the consequence of icing conditions but a loss of control caused by atmospheric downdrafts.
Icing

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 10 Jan 1968 Douglas C-54 Skymaster accident near Mt Tobin, United States of America?

A four-engine aircraft crashed into Mount Tobin after reporting altitude and icing issues. All 19 occupants were killed. The official investigation attributed the loss of control to atmospheric downdrafts rather than icing.

Were there any fatalities in the 10 Jan 1968 Douglas C-54 Skymaster accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 19 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 10 Jan 1968 involved a Douglas C-54 Skymaster, registration 50850, operated by United States Navy - USN, at Mt Tobin, United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

It is believed the accident was not the consequence of icing conditions but a loss of control caused by atmospheric downdrafts.

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