On September 20, 1950, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration 56496) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Roi-Namur, Marshall Islands during takeoff. 26 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Investigators could not determine an exact cause, though they identified multiple technical failures including asymmetric flap deployment and simultaneous structural damage to the wings and tail. 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.
A four-engine aircraft crashed into the ocean approximately 2.5 km from the coast shortly after departing Roi-Namur-Dyess Airport at night.
What happened
During a nighttime departure from runway 04 at Roi-Namur-Dyess Airport, a four-engine aircraft entered an initial climb phase before experiencing a stall. Roughly three minutes after takeoff, the plane went down in the sea at a distance of approximately 2.5 km from the shoreline. The wreckage sank a few hundred yards from the impact site, and very little debris was recovered from the area. There were 26 fatalities among the occupants, with no survivors reported.
Findings
Official investigations into the accident could not establish a definitive single cause, but several contributing factors were identified during the inquiry:
The captain was reportedly distracted while the first officer attempted to locate various radio frequencies.
There was evidence of instrument failure and a sudden loss of power affecting two engines on the same side of the aircraft.
An unauthorized individual may have engaged the autopilot system.
A malfunction involving the flaps, which deployed asymmetrically, led to a lateral loss of control.
Issues were noted regarding the primary control system.
Simultaneous structural failure likely occurred at the wingtips and the tail section.
Probable cause
Investigators could not determine an exact cause, though they identified multiple technical failures including asymmetric flap deployment and simultaneous structural damage to the wings and tail.