Investigation Summary
The accident occurred during a mass airlift operation intended to bring servicemen home from the Pacific theater. The aircraft, a massive double-deck transport, was loaded with 105 passengers and 10 crew members. At approximately 06:27 PST, the aircraft lifted off the runway but immediately struggled to maintain controlled flight. Witnesses reported the aircraft reached an altitude of approximately 100 feet before banking sharply to the left. The left wing struck the ground, causing the aircraft to cartwheel, break apart, and explode. While some reports place the wreckage in a snow-covered field approximately 4 kilometers from the airbase, others indicate the impact occurred near the intersection of the runways or just beyond the airfield perimeter. The resulting fire and the structural breakup of the fuselage contributed to the high death toll, which at the time made it the deadliest aviation disaster in history.
Final Conclusions
The official investigation concluded that the primary cause of the accident was the failure of the flight crew to remove the internal gust locks for the elevator and rudder. These mechanical locks are designed to protect control surfaces from wind damage while the aircraft is parked on the ground. By attempting takeoff with these locks engaged, the pilots were unable to manipulate the aircraft's pitch or yaw, leading to an immediate loss of control once the aircraft became airborne.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Gust Locks
Mechanical pins or clamps used to lock control surfaces (rudder, elevator, ailerons) in place while parked to prevent wind damage; failure to disengage them prevents the pilot from controlling the aircraft.
Pratt & Whitney R-4360-20WA
The four 3,500 horsepower radial engines powering the C-124A.
Interesting Facts
- 01The crash was the deadliest aviation accident in the world at the time, surpassing the 1950 Llandow air disaster.
- 02It remains the deadliest aviation accident in the history of Washington state.
- 03The flight was part of Operation Sleigh Ride, bringing Korean War veterans home for Christmas.
- 04The aircraft was a Douglas C-124A-DL Globemaster II, a massive transport capable of carrying 200 troops.
- 05Survivors were located primarily in the tail section of the aircraft, which broke away from the main fire.
- 06While most official records confirm 115 souls on board, some early military reports and commemorative sources cited 106 total occupants.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Gust Lock Design Review
The accident highlighted the critical danger of internal gust locks that do not have a physical or visual interlock to prevent the throttles from being advanced while the controls are locked.