Narrative:The Skymaster departed Sorido Airstrip. After takeoff the pilot did not turn away to clear rising terrain. The aircraft flew into a bluff at an elevation of about 500 feet (150 m). It was deemed possible that the flaps were retracted too soon after takeoff.
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» Military aviation disasters : significant losses since 1908 / D. Gero, 1999
»
USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers--1908 to Present / Joe Baugher»
PacificWrecks.com
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Lorengau Airfield to Biak-Sorido Airfield as the crow flies is 1244 km (777 miles).
Accident location: Global; accuracy within tens or hundreds of kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.