Incident Overview
On a night characterized by marginal weather conditions, a charter flight operated on behalf of the Military Air Command departed Monterey Airport, California, bound for Columbus, Georgia. The aircraft was scheduled to make an intermediate stop at Ardmore Municipal Airport in Oklahoma. At the time of the incident, the plane was carrying 93 US soldiers and a crew of five.
Approach and Loss of Control
Following an uneventful leg from Monterey, the flight crew initiated descent toward Ardmore. Initially attempting an ADF instrument approach to runway 08, the crew abandoned this procedure and elected to conduct a visual approach to runway 30. During the descent in poor visibility, the captain, who was also serving as the pilot-in-command (PIC), suffered a heart attack. Consequently, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent with a slight right bank. The plane struck the ground approximately 1.5 miles short of runway 30 and disintegrated upon impact.
Casualties and Medical Findings
The crash resulted in the immediate deaths of all five crew members and 75 passengers. Additionally, 18 individuals sustained serious injuries. Tragically, three of these survivors later died from their wounds. Official investigation findings identified the probable cause as the incapacitation of the PIC due to coronary insufficiency during a critical phase of the visual circling approach under instrument flight conditions.
Regulatory and Medical Context
The investigative board noted significant concerns regarding the pilot's medical history. The PIC had established records of cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus, both of which are disqualifying conditions for holding a first-class medical certificate. It was determined that the pilot deliberately falsified his application for this certification.