Date & Time:
Mar 27, 1958 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
Operator:
Registration:
52-0981
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kelly - Tinker
MSN:
43890
YOM:
1952
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
10
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
5
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
En route from Kelly AFB to Tinker AFB, while cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet in poor weather conditions, the four engine aircraft collided with a USAF Fairchild C-119C-17-FA Flying Boxcar. Registered 49-0195, the Flying Boxcar was en route from Sheppard AFB to Carswell AFB with a crew of three on board. Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located near Bridgeport. All 18 occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the collision was the result of an error on part of the C-119's crew who failed to respect the instructions transmitted by ATC, asking them to fly at an altitude of 7,000 feet. For undetermined reason, the crew continue his route at the insufficient altitude of 6,000 feet, crossing the track of the C-124 which was flying at the same level. Low visibility caused by poor weather conditions was considered as a contributing factor.
