What happened
The aircraft, operated by VP-31, departed Elizabeth City NAS on a scheduled maritime patrol mission. During the initial climb phase shortly after takeoff, the right wing dropped significantly by approximately 30 degrees. The airplane subsequently impacted trees in a wooded area and burst into flames upon impact. This accident resulted in the deaths of three crew members and left four others injured.
Findings
Official investigations indicated that the field floodlights were turned off while the aircraft was still over the airfield. The commander of FAW-5 concluded that the pilot likely inadvertently stalled the airplane due to confusion while transitioning to instrument flying after the lights were extinguished. Additionally, testimony from surviving crew members revealed that they were not wearing safety belts at the time of the crash.