What happened
On a scheduled maritime patrol mission, a four-engine aircraft departed from Otis Air Force Base at 18:58 local time. During the initial stages of the flight, the crew reported that the third engine had experienced a failure and subsequently caught fire. In response to this emergency, the flight was cleared to divert to Nantucket for an unscheduled landing.
As the aircraft was maneuvering for its approach to Nantucket Island, the plane became uncontrollable and descended into the ocean. The accident resulted in 15 fatalities among the occupants, with only one passenger surviving the impact.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the primary factor leading to the emergency was an engine fire occurring during the initial climb phase of the flight.