What happened
The seaplane initially departed from Brooklyn Air Station on a local test flight. During the operation, the mission was diverted to investigate a reported sighting of a submarine located southeast of Nantucket. As the aircraft proceeded with this new objective, weather conditions worsened significantly. Rain began to fall and darkness descended, severely limiting visibility for the crew.
Due to these reduced visual conditions, the aircraft failed to maintain safe clearance from the terrain. It subsequently impacted the cliffs on Block Island. The collision resulted in fatal injuries for everyone on board, killing all three crew members.
Findings
The official investigation determined that the accident was caused by a controlled flight into terrain. This conclusion highlights that while the aircraft remained under pilot control until impact, the combination of deteriorating weather and limited visibility prevented the crew from avoiding the cliff face.