What happened
During a maritime surveillance mission over the Atlantic Ocean, an aircraft departed from Valkenburg Airbase to monitor a Soviet 'Kiev Class' Navy vessel. While performing its patrol duties, the flight encountered extreme meteorological conditions characterized by heavy blizzard activity, significant turbulence, and high winds accompanied by 30-foot waves. The visibility was also notably reduced due to the weather.
At approximately 09:58, the crew issued an emergency declaration as environmental conditions worsened. Due to the severity of the situation, the aircraft was forced to ditch in the ocean roughly 185 km west of the Hebrides Islands. A rescue mission involving a RAF Sea King helicopter reached the site approximately two hours after the incident. The rescue operation successfully evacuated nine individuals who sustained injuries, though the accident resulted in three fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the crash revealed that the aircraft experienced critical issues with its flight controls. The primary factor leading to the loss of control was the failure of a control rod located within the horizontal stabilizer.