What happened
The incident involved a twin-engine aircraft operating a flight from Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, Texas, to Long Beach. The route included an intermediate stop at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona. During the leg of the journey passing over De Chino Hills, the aircraft was flying within clouds. It collided with the cables of a high-tension power line. Following this impact, the plane crashed onto the slope of San Juan Hill, located southwest of Chino. All occupants on board were killed, with reports indicating five crew members perished in the accident.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the pilot in command continued to fly under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) despite being in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC). This decision to proceed without appropriate instrument clearance or visibility was identified as the primary factor leading to the collision with the power infrastructure.