What happened
A flight transporting personnel from Tokyo to Travis Air Force Base, via an intermediate stop at Hickam Air Force Base in Honolulu, ended in a fatal accident. Shortly after departing from Hickam Field, the pilot reported experiencing technical difficulties involving the high frequency transmission system and decided to return to the airfield for a landing.
While approaching the field from the northwest under nighttime conditions, the four-engine aircraft struck the slope of Mt Waianae, located approximately 18 miles from the airport. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate. There were 66 fatalities among the crew and passengers, with no survivors.
Findings
Investigations into the accident revealed that the flight was approximately 8 miles off its intended course at the time of the collision. This deviation was attributed to a navigation error by the flying crew, who did not follow established approach procedures. Additionally, environmental factors including night operations, cloud cover, and rainfall were identified as contributing elements to the crash.