What happened
The incident involved an aircraft operating out of Henderson Field during a nighttime search operation. While in flight, the machine suffered a critical mechanical issue involving its powerplant. The crew was forced to ditch the aircraft in the water off the coast of Guadalcanal Island. Following the ditching, the wreckage eventually sank beneath the surface. Despite the severity of the event and the loss of the airframe, all individuals on board were recovered safely.
Findings
The official investigation identified the primary factor leading to the accident as a mechanical malfunction. Specifically, the determination cited engine failure in flight as the cause that necessitated the emergency ditching procedure.