What happened
During a flight from Christchurch to McMurdo, an aircraft operated by VX-6 encountered extreme weather conditions. After the flight had passed the point of safe return, a heavy storm moved into the vicinity of the McMurdo station. Because the fuel levels were too low to permit a return trip to Christchurch, the crew decided to proceed with the landing attempt despite the visibility and weather challenges.
While performing a ground controlled approach from an altitude of 12,000 feet down to 300 feet, the pilot transitioned to a visual landing technique. During this phase, as the landing gear was deployed, the Lockheed P2V Neptune began a right-hand turn. During the maneuver, the nose of the aircraft dropped, causing the plane to impact the snow with its nose and right wing. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the Lockheed P2V Neptune.
Findings
- The accident resulted in four fatalities and four injuries among the crew members.
- The primary factor leading to the crash was the decision to attempt a landing during a severe storm after passing the point of safe return.