Incident Details
A flight crew was conducting a mission to drop parachute flares over a search area when one of the flares accidentally ignited inside the aircraft. The resulting thick smoke rapidly filled the cockpit and cabin, incapacitating the pilots and other crew members. Without control, the aircraft descended uncontrollably and crashed into the sea.
All six personnel on board were killed in the accident. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact.
Crew
The crew members who lost their lives were identified as:
- LCDR Francis W. Miller
- LTJG Jerald M. Mack
- AD1 Harold D. Brown Jr.
- AM2 Benjamin R. Gaskins Jr.
- AT2 John F. Harrison
- AT2 John P. Pledger
The official investigation did not specify a probable cause for the accidental ignition of the flare.