What happened
During a training flight originating from Whidbey Island NAS in Washington, a twin-engine aircraft crashed into the slopes of Mt McCreight. The incident occurred while the aircraft was operating at an altitude of approximately 4,000 feet amidst challenging weather conditions. Following the disappearance, search and rescue operations were initiated but were later terminated after several days when no evidence of the plane or its occupants could be located.
The wreckage remained undiscovered for some time until hikers spotted the debris in a heavily forested region of Vancouver Island on October 21, 1951. The impact resulted in the deaths of all 11 crew members onboard the aircraft.
Findings
- The flight was being conducted under marginal weather conditions.
- The aircraft struck the terrain while in flight.