What happened
A flight transporting Navy personnel from Elmendorf AFB toward Whidbey Island was conducting an intermediate leg toward Adak when the accident occurred. The mission involved returning service members to Whidbey Island for the Christmas holiday.
While operating at a cruising altitude of 4,700 feet, the four-engine airplane encountered restricted visibility. During this phase of flight, the aircraft collided with the side of a volcano on Great Sitkin Island, situated approximately 25 miles northeast of Adak Airfield. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft type and caused 10 fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the primary factor was controlled flight into terrain.