What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was conducting a navigation exercise at RCAF Dartmouth. The machine was carrying four crew members when it initiated its takeoff roll. During this phase of flight, the airplane experienced a swing that developed into a ground loop. This maneuver caused the undercarriage to collapse, bringing the aircraft to an abrupt halt on the runway surface.
Following the structural failure and stoppage, the airframe caught fire and subsequently exploded. All four individuals on board sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash and subsequent fire. The crew consisted of a pilot, two navigators, and a wireless operator.
Findings
An official inquiry was conducted to determine the specific factors leading to the accident. However, the exact cause could not be established because the results of the Court of Inquiry were never received or recorded in the available documentation.