What happened
During a nighttime operation over Albemarle Sound, a seaplane belonging to the patrol squadron VP-63 was conducting a low-altitude pass near the Wade Point Lighthouse. The objective of this maneuver was to test the searchlight mounted on the bow of the aircraft. While executing a turn at a dangerously low altitude, one wingtip struck the water surface. This impact caused the aircraft to enter a high-speed water loop before it sank completely. All eight crew members aboard were killed in the incident.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the accident was directly attributable to pilot error rather than mechanical failure. The board determined that the pilot made faulty judgments while flying under instrument conditions at low altitude. Specifically, the pilot failed to monitor the radio altimeter and attempted a turn when the aircraft was too close to the water. Additionally, it was noted that the pilot may have become disoriented due to the high diffusion of light reflecting off the water surface, which likely contributed to the loss of spatial awareness during the critical maneuver.