What happened
The incident occurred during a night maritime patrol mission. The aircraft was configured for combat operations, carrying 1,380 gallons of gasoline and four Mk.41 depth charges. At the time of the event, winds were recorded at 16 knots from 159 degrees, while the active runway was 139 degrees.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft drifted toward the left side of the runway. Evidence suggests that the crosswind component was not adequately corrected for by the flight crew. Just before the aircraft became airborne, the port wingtip made contact with a fifteen-foot vertical embankment situated on the left edge of the runway.
The impact caused the outer eight feet of the port wing to fold back. The aircraft subsequently climbed over the embankment and cartwheeled onto its back. Three of the depth charges were ejected from the wreckage, while the fourth remained in the debris without detonating. The airframe was totally destroyed in the crash.
Findings
The accident resulted in five fatalities and three injuries among the crew members on board. The primary contributing factor identified was the failure to correct for crosswind conditions during the takeoff phase, which led to the lateral drift and subsequent wingtip strike.