What happened
The four-engine aircraft departed Hamilton, Bermuda, with a destination of Morrison AFB in Palm Beach, Florida. During the cruise phase, approximately 294 miles northeast of the Florida coast, the crew encountered severe weather characterized by thunderstorm activity and intense turbulence. The aircraft subsequently lost control and impacted the sea. Search efforts recovered some debris, but no survivors were found among the six occupants, who were declared deceased.
Findings
The Accident Investigating Board at Morrison Field concluded that the primary cause was violent turbulence leading to a loss of control. While structural failure prior to impact could not be ruled out, there was no evidence of fire or an attempted ditching. Debris analysis indicated the crew compartment was torn apart upon contact with the water. The board identified contributing factors including possible navigational error that allowed the aircraft to drift north into the frontal zone and a failure by the pilot to circumnavigate the hazardous weather.