Eglin – Andrews

On October 1, 1953 at 09:30 AM, Eglin – Andrews experienced a crash involving North American B-25 Mitchell, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Pine Mountain Georgia.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 83.3%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft left Eglin AFB, Florida, at 0830LT bound for Andrews AFB, Maryland. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane deviated from the prescribed flight plan for unknown reason. About an hour later, while cruising at an altitude of 1,340 feet in rainy conditions, the aircraft crashed in the Franklin Delano Roosevelt State Park located southeast of Pine Mountain. A crew member was seriously injured while five others were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor and it was reported that the crew was flying under VFR. Crew: Cpt Stephen A. Clisham, pilot, † Cpt Virgil G. Harris, copilot, † T/Sgt Othelier B. Hoke, † A3c Robert W. Davidson, † A2c Benny J. Shepard, † Richard K. Schmidt.

Aircraft reference details include registration 44-86779, MSN 108-47533, year of manufacture 1944.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 32.8649°, -84.8541°.