What happened
The incident involved an aircraft conducting a long-distance ferry mission from Florida to Europe. The planned route included stops at West Palm Beach, Borinquen, Waller AFB, Belém, Natal, and Bathurst. While approaching the African coast near Bathurst, the airplane experienced a mechanical issue when one engine failed. In response to the loss of power, the crew executed an emergency ditching into the ocean roughly 50 kilometers from the coast. The aircraft subsequently sank and was declared lost. Rescue operations were successful, with the crew being recovered by an RAF Sunderland patrol aircraft.
Findings
The official investigation attributed the accident to engine failure in flight. This mechanical malfunction forced the crew to abandon the aircraft over water, resulting in the total loss of the machine despite the safe evacuation of the personnel on board.