What happened
During a nighttime aerial refueling operation over Montana, two United States Air Force aircraft were involved in a mid-air collision. The first aircraft had departed from McChord AFB to participate in the mission. While cruising at an altitude of 25,000 feet, it struck a second Lockheed C-141B-LM Starlifter, identified by registration 65-0255, which was performing the same mission.
Following the impact, both aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent. The structural integrity of both planes failed, causing them to disintegrate while still in flight. The wreckage eventually crashed approximately 14 km north of Harlem. There were seven crew members aboard the second aircraft, and the total number of 13 fatalities was recorded across both airframes.
Findings
The specific circumstances surrounding the collision remain unknown, as the exact nature of the encounter at altitude has not been determined.