1 fatality

Four-engine aircraft crashes into San Francisco Bay during training (90385)

San Francisco, United States of AmericaFlight

On September 4, 1944, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration 90385) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near San Francisco, United States of America in flight. One person was killed. 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)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A four-engine aircraft lost control during a training exercise and crashed into San Francisco Bay, resulting in one fatality and the rescue of four other occupants.

What happened

During a scheduled training exercise, a four-engine aircraft experienced a loss of control. The unstable flight path led to an uncontrolled descent, causing the airframe to impact the waters of San Francisco Bay. Emergency response teams subsequently recovered the survivors from the water. Of the five individuals on board, four were successfully rescued and survived the incident. Tragically, one crew member did not survive the crash and was confirmed as a fatality.

Findings

The source material does not provide specific technical details regarding the mechanical failure or pilot error that initiated the loss of control. The event is documented strictly as an in-flight accident occurring during a training mission, resulting in a single death and four survivors.