Accident Overview
On an unspecified date, a four-engine airplane operating a flight from Little Rock, Arkansas to Fort Smith, Arkansas, encountered poor weather conditions characterized by low visibility. The aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Sugarloaf, located northwest of Hot Springs, Arkansas. The collision destroyed the airplane upon impact. All seven crew members on board were killed.
Crew
The crew consisted of Captain Richard W. Lane, pilot instructor; Captain David G. Noltensmeyer, pilot; Lieutenant Douglas P. Menssen, copilot; Captain John M. Davis, navigator; Lieutenant Robert L. Nelson, navigator; Staff Sergeant William R. Dawson, flight engineer; and Technical Sergeant Bernard J. Thaler, load adjuster.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause of the accident was determined to be controlled flight into terrain.