What happened
During a routine local training mission originating from NAS Whidden Island, an aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent. While maintaining a cruising altitude of 4,000 feet, the VP-931 transitioned into a sudden dive. The flight path led the aircraft into the waters of the Saratoga Passage, situated near the Puget Sound.
There were no survivors of the accident. The crash resulted in seven fatalities among the crew members on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident concluded that the primary reason for the loss of control was a structural failure occurring while the aircraft was in flight.