What happened
A test flight departing from Kirtland AFB ended in a fatal accident when the four-engine aircraft experienced a catastrophic structural failure. During the cruise phase at a low altitude, the aircraft encountered turbulent atmospheric conditions. This turbulence led to a wing failure, causing the plane to descend uncontrollably.
The wreckage was located in hilly terrain approximately 15.5 miles north of Magdalena. There were no survivors of the accident, as all 11 crew members on board perished during the crash.
Findings
The primary factor identified in the sequence of events was the encounter with turbulence, which resulted in the loss of structural integrity of the wing.