Summary
On a training mission, a four-engine aircraft named 'Flagship Oklahoma' departed Idlewild Airport at 1157 local time with a crew of six. The flight climbed along the shore of Long Island. Twenty-three minutes after departure, the aircraft banked left, entered a dive, and crashed into the ocean five miles offshore. Few debris were recovered off Montauk Point. All six crew members were killed.
Accident Details
The aircraft was conducting a training mission at the time of the accident. The crew consisted of six members. The aircraft was identified as 'Flagship Oklahoma'. The crash occurred five miles off the coast of Long Island, with debris found near Montauk Point.
Investigation
The official investigation determined that the exact cause of the accident could not be established with certainty. However, it is believed that loss of control occurred while the crew was preparing to shut down an engine to simulate a failure or was initiating a particular flying configuration requiring flap deployment at 30 degrees, which was the case when the aircraft struck the water. The possibility that two of the four engines were inoperative at the time of impact is not ruled out.