Mission and Hurricane
An aircraft departed from Guantánamo Bay Naval Air Station in Cuba on a meteorological mission assigned to investigate Hurricane Janet. At the time, the hurricane was classified as Category 4 and was approaching Jamaica from the south.
Accident Sequence
While penetrating the eye of the hurricane at an altitude of approximately 700 feet, the airplane went out of control and subsequently crashed into the sea. The accident occurred about 480 kilometers southwest of the Jamaican coast.
Search and Rescue
Search and rescue operations were initiated, but after several days, the effort was suspended as no trace of the aircraft or the eleven occupants was found.
Occupants
The aircraft carried nine crew members and two journalists, totaling eleven people on board.