What happened
The incident occurred immediately following departure from North Island-Halsey Field NAS. During the initial climb phase of flight, the aircraft experienced a stall. This loss of lift caused the seaplane to descend rapidly and impact the ground, where it subsequently caught fire.
The crash resulted in significant casualties among those on board. Five crew members lost their lives in the accident, while six other individuals sustained injuries. At the time of the incident, the aircraft was operating under the designation VP-81 and had been tasked with a maritime patrol mission.