Incident Overview
An aircraft participating in a night exercise with a US Marine Ship departed from Patuxent River Naval Air Station. While cruising at an altitude of 500 feet, the airplane nosed down and subsequently crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. The accident occurred approximately 231 miles east of Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Aftermath
Following the crash, few pieces of debris and the dead body of the captain were found floating on the water. No trace of the remaining crew members was discovered.
Investigation
The official investigation into the accident was unable to determine the exact cause due to a lack of evidence. However, it was noted that altimeter oscillations could occur in flight and may have been a contributing factor.