What happened
The incident occurred during a night training flight conducted by a crew from VP-63 off the coast of Oregon. While en route, the aircraft encountered rapidly deteriorating meteorological conditions characterized by low clouds, icing, and strong winds. In response to these hazards, the pilot reduced altitude and initiated a diversion to Marchfield Air Force Base. However, the crew was unable to visually locate the airfield amidst the poor visibility. The pilot eventually executed an emergency landing approximately 8 km off the Heceta Head lighthouse. Following the impact with the water, the aircraft sank and was lost. Post-accident recovery efforts revealed that only one member of the eight-person crew survived; the remaining seven individuals drowned.
Findings
The primary contributing factor to the accident was the combination of severe weather elements, specifically icing and strong winds, which occurred during a night operation. These conditions prevented the pilot from successfully identifying the intended diversion airfield, leading to an off-airfield landing in the ocean.