What happened
The incident occurred during the final approach to Quonset Point Naval Air Station. As the aircraft descended, a critical failure event took place when both engines ceased functioning simultaneously. This loss of thrust resulted in an aerodynamic stall, causing the plane to descend rapidly and impact the water surface several miles offshore from the coast.
Upon impact, the aircraft began to sink into the sea. Emergency response teams successfully located and extracted all personnel on board. In total, eight crew members were rescued and survived the accident. The airframe was not recovered and is considered a total loss following its submersion.
Findings
Investigations into the event determined that the immediate cause of the crash was the simultaneous failure of both propulsion units. This dual engine stoppage was attributed to fuel exhaustion, meaning the aircraft ran out of usable fuel before it could reach the runway and land safely.