What happened
During a nighttime approach to the Argentia-Bristol Field, a four-engine aircraft impacted the waters of Trinity Bay. The crash site was located approximately 50 km northeast of the airfield. Following the accident, search efforts in the early morning hours uncovered scattered debris floating on the surface of the sea.
All 23 occupants on board the aircraft perished in the accident. There were no survivors recovered from the wreckage or the surrounding area.
Findings
Investigations into the incident suggest that the aircraft may have experienced mid-air disintegration. While investigators considered the possibility of a significant technical failure preceding the breakup, the lack of recoverable evidence prevented a definitive determination regarding the specific mechanical or structural failure that led to the crash.