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9 fatalities

Fatal Mountain Strike During Low-Altitude Military Flight (55-4539)

Empire, United States of AmericaFlight

On September 11, 1960, a Fairchild C-123 Provider (registration 55-4539) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Empire, United States of America in flight. 9 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was determined to be the consequence of a wrong decision by the pilot, who violated paragraph 12A (4) of AF Reg 60-16 by entering a box canyon with insufficient altitude and lateral clearance to effect a safe recovery. 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A military aircraft struck Mt Vasquez Peak after entering a box canyon with insufficient altitude. All nine occupants were killed. The pilot's decision to enter the canyon in violation of regulations was the probable cause.

Flight Operations and Accident Sequence The crew was conducting a flight from Pope Air Force Base to Hamilton Air Force Base, with intermediate stops at Lowry Air Force Base and Ogden-Hill Air Force Base. The aircraft departed Lowry Air Force Base at 0801 local time. After completing successive turns to the left and then to the right, the aircraft continued on a heading of 270 degrees. Minutes later, the airplane entered a box canyon and was unable to gain sufficient height. It subsequently struck the slope of Mt Vasquez Peak, which has an elevation of 3,414 meters. The aircraft was destroyed, and all nine occupants were killed.

Probable cause

The accident was determined to be the consequence of a wrong decision by the pilot, who violated paragraph 12A (4) of AF Reg 60-16 by entering a box canyon with insufficient altitude and lateral clearance to effect a safe recovery. Contributing factors included a breach of air discipline, as the pilot operated the aircraft for 32 miles at altitudes ranging from 500 feet down to 50 feet above the immediate terrain, in violation of paragraph 12A (3) of AF Reg 60-16. Weather conditions may have also contributed, as forecast winds and turbulence indicated a probable adverse mountain wave effect on the aircraft immediately prior to impact.
Controlled flight into terrain

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 11 Sept 1960 Fairchild C-123 Provider accident near Empire, United States of America?

A military aircraft struck Mt Vasquez Peak after entering a box canyon with insufficient altitude. All nine occupants were killed. The pilot's decision to enter the canyon in violation of regulations was the probable cause.

Were there any fatalities in the 11 Sept 1960 Fairchild C-123 Provider accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 9 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 11 Sept 1960 involved a Fairchild C-123 Provider, registration 55-4539, operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947), at Empire, United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was determined to be the consequence of a wrong decision by the pilot, who violated paragraph 12A (4) of AF Reg 60-16 by entering a box canyon with insufficient altitude and lateral clearance to effect a safe recovery. Contributing factors included a breach of air discipline, as the pilot operated the…

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