What happened
The incident occurred at the end of a long operational day when the flight crew was returning to Kaneohe Bay Naval Air Station after completing a maritime patrol mission off the coast of Hawaii. The total duty time had exceeded twelve hours. As the aircraft initiated its final approach, conditions were challenging due to darkness and poor weather, which significantly reduced visibility.
During the descent phase, the pilot misidentified a navigational aid. Believing they were approaching the Barber's Point Light, the crew actually encountered the Makapu'u light, which is located further south. This confusion led to a premature start of the descent procedure. Consequently, the aircraft descended below the safe altitude for the terrain and struck the slope of a hill near Makapu'u.
The impact resulted in the loss of all nine individuals on board. There were no survivors among the crew members.
Findings
Official investigations identified the primary cause as a crew error involving the misinterpretation of two distinct lights during the approach to Kaneohe Bay NAS. This mistake triggered an early descent that left the aircraft with insufficient altitude for the terrain.
Contributing factors included the reduced visibility caused by night operations and adverse weather conditions. Additionally, the fatigue experienced by the crew due to a duty period exceeding twelve hours was considered a significant element in the chain of events leading to the accident.