Donaldson AFB-Donaldson Center Airport (Greenville)

As the pilot was making an ILS approach in IMC weather, the aircraft descended into trees and crashed about 1-1/2 mi from the runway threshold. The decision height for this approach was 1,316 feet msl and was located less than a mile from the threshold. A controller said that the last altitude readout he remembers for the aircraft was 1,200 feet at about 2 miles from threshold. When the radar target disappeared from the display, the controller asked for a position report, but received no reply. The 0740 est weather at Greenville, SC, was in part: sky condition zero obscured, visibility zero with fog, wind calm. The elevation of the crash site was 980 feet msl. All four occupants were killed.

Shortly after takeoff from Donaldson Center Airport, the twin engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It banked left then stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.

The crew left Griffiss AFB in Rome, New York, at 1330LT on a routine flight to Donaldson AFB, Greenville, South Carolina. While descending to Greenville, the pilot encountered foggy conditions when the airplane hit trees and lost its tail before crashing in a wooded area located in Cowpens, about 35 miles northeast of Donaldson AFB. The airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the tail was found about a mile away from the main wreckage. It was reported that the crew encountered difficulties shortly before the accident.
Crew:
Col Paul C. Schauer, pilot,
Maj Russell Kraus, copilot,
A1c Frederick W. Walker, flight engineer.

On final approach, the aircraft was too low and hit the ground short of runway threshold. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Ran into a ditch while taxiing at high speed at Donaldson AFB, Greenville. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

The crew was performing a local training flight in Greenville-Donaldson Airport. In flight, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and the captain elected to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed in flames in a field located three miles south of the airport. The aircraft was partially destroyed by fire and four crew members were killed as three others were injured.