Background
The aircraft was on a resupply mission to the Marine Corps base at Khe Sanh. It was carrying sandbags needed for a major runway reconstruction program. The delivery method involved flying low and slow over the runway and pushing the sandbags out of the rear cargo door.
Accident
During a Ground Controlled Approach (GCA) in poor weather with a low cloud base, the aircraft crashed short of the runway and caught fire. The accident was attributed to pilot error rather than enemy action.
Crew
The crew consisted of Captain Erie Lawrence Bjorke, 1st Lieutenant James Randall Hottenroth, Technical Sergeant Edward Mosley, Airman Second Class John Herbert Snyder, and Sergeant Charles Lynn Baney. Only one of the five crew members survived.
Investigation
The official probable cause was determined to be pilot error.