McClellan - McClellan

On March 22, 1958 at 11:18 AM, McClellan - McClellan experienced a crash involving Lockheed C-121 Super Constellation, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Sacramento-McClellan California.

The flight was categorized as topographic and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

18 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 18 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 14, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The crew departed McClellan AFB on a topographic and geographical mission off the Californian coast. Shortly after takeoff from runway 16, while climbing to an altitude of 500 feet, the engine number two caught fire. The crew obtained the authorization to return for an emergency landing and the captain completed a 180 turn to intercept the glide. Doing so, the airplane lost 200 feet while flying over a populated area and the speed dropped to 120 knots. On final, the captain told his colleagues he was unable to reach the airport so he attempted an emergency landing in an open field located 1,5 mile short of runway 16. On touchdown, the airplane slid for several yards, lost its right wing and came to rest in flames. All 18 occupants were injured, five of them seriously, and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Aircraft reference details include registration 54-2308, MSN 4390, year of manufacture 1956.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 38.6771°, -121.3950°.