Seattle - Seattle

On August 13, 1951 at 02:18 PM, Seattle - Seattle experienced a crash involving Boeing B-50 Superfortress, operated by United States Air Force - USAF, with the event recorded near Seattle-Boeing Field Washington.

The flight was categorized as test and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a city crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 11 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 183.3%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 6, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 5.

The crew (three engineers and pilots from Boeing and three USAF officers) were engaged in a local flight from Seattle-Boeing Field to test the airplane that was subject to technical modifications. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the four engine airplane encountered serious difficulties to gain height when the right wing hit the roof of a brewery located about a mile north of the airfield. Out of control, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion on the Lester Apartments building. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire fed by 4,000 gallons of fuel. All six crew members and five people in the building were killed while 11 other people on the ground were injured. The exact cause of the mishap remains unclear. Crew: Lt Lloyd G. Vanderwielen, pilot, Earl Edwards, copilot, Cpt Charles A. Dews, radar observer, M/Sgt Frank A. Dodaro, flight engineer, Kenneth C. Barrick, flight test analyst 1.

Aircraft reference details include registration 49-0268, MSN 16044, year of manufacture 1949.