What happened
During a local training mission originating from Twentynine Palms, the aircraft experienced a series of mechanical issues shortly after departure. The sequence began when the number one engine failed during the initial climb phase. Following this primary failure, the number four engine also lost power, making it difficult for the crew to sustain sufficient altitude.
Due to the loss of propulsion, the crew performed an emergency landing in a sandy terrain situated approximately 4.5 km beyond the runway threshold. While the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss, there were no injuries reported among the eight crew members on board.
Findings
Investigations into the incident identified that the aircraft was operating at its maximum takeoff weight during the flight. The primary contributing factors included the failure of engine number one and the subsequent loss of power in engine number four, which prevented the plane from maintaining a positive rate of climb.