McChord - Hamilton

On August 1, 1947 at 02:30 AM, McChord - Hamilton experienced a crash involving North American B-25 Mitchell, operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF, with the event recorded near Kelso Washington.

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

4 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 50.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The twin engine aircraft left McChord AFB at 0212LT bound for Hamilton AFB located in Novato, California. About fifteen minutes into the flight, the left engine caught fire and smoke spread into the cabin. Two crew members bailed out when the left wing broke off. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a pasture located 15 miles east of Kelso. Both crew who bailed out were able to walk away and to find help while both pilots were killed in the crash.

Aircraft reference details include registration 44-31316, MSN 108-37391.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 46.1421°, -122.9053°.