What happened
The aircraft was conducting a maritime patrol mission traveling from Crete to the Saronic Gulf. During the flight, weather conditions deteriorated significantly, leading to limited visibility and active storm cells. The crew subsequently lost their position and continued flying until the fuel supply was depleted. With no remaining fuel, the airplane crashed into the sea off the coast of Palaiochora.
Findings
The official investigation determined that the accident resulted from fuel exhaustion. The combination of deteriorating weather conditions and the crew's loss of situational awareness prevented them from reaching a safe landing site before their fuel reserves were completely used up. Two members of the crew lost their lives in the incident, while a third individual was successfully rescued.