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9 fatalities

U.S. Navy Patrol Aircraft Crashes Off Newfoundland (128335)

Cape Race, CanadaFlight

On December 21, 1960, a Lockheed P-2 Neptune (registration 128335) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Cape Race, Canada in flight. 9 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

A U.S. Navy patrol aircraft returning to Argentia-Bristol Field NAS crashed into the ocean off Cape Race, Newfoundland, in poor weather. All nine crew members perished.

Incident Overview

A U.S. Navy patrol aircraft crashed into the Atlantic Ocean while returning to Argentia-Bristol Field Naval Air Station after an uneventful patrol flight over the North Atlantic. The accident occurred as the aircraft approached the coast of Newfoundland in poor weather conditions. The airplane went out of control and crashed into the water.

Wreckage and Recovery

Search efforts recovered few debris floating on the water off Cape Race, located on the southeastern part of Newfoundland. The wreckage was limited, and no survivors were found.

Crew

The nine crew members killed in the crash were identified as:

  • Ltjg Billie M. Wertz, pilot
  • Ltjg David Hardy, copilot
  • Ltjg William T. Flynn, navigator
  • Ad2 George P. Smith
  • At2 Daniel R. Carlson
  • Adr3 Lee Calvin Ashburn
  • Ao1 Rocco S. Sallesa
  • At1 Stillman Schulze Jr.
  • Ams2 Don O. Voland
Loss of control in flight

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 21 Dec 1960 Lockheed P-2 Neptune accident near Cape Race, Canada?

A U.S. Navy patrol aircraft returning to Argentia-Bristol Field NAS crashed into the ocean off Cape Race, Newfoundland, in poor weather. All nine crew members perished.

Were there any fatalities in the 21 Dec 1960 Lockheed P-2 Neptune accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 9 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 21 Dec 1960 involved a Lockheed P-2 Neptune, registration 128335, operated by United States Navy - USN, at Cape Race, Canada.

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