10 fatalities

Fatal aircraft accident during maritime patrol near Nassau (128421)

Nassau, BahamasTakeoff (climb)

On May 7, 1954, a Lockheed P-2 Neptune (registration 128421) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Nassau, Bahamas during takeoff. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft lost control during the climb phase following takeoff from Nassau-Oaks Field. 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)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A maritime patrol flight crashed into the ocean shortly after departing Nassau-Oaks Field, resulting in the loss of all ten crew members.

What happened

During a scheduled maritime patrol mission originating from Nassau-Oaks Field, an aircraft experienced a catastrophic loss of control. The incident occurred during the initial climb phase of the flight, shortly after the plane had departed from the airfield.

As the aircraft ascended, it became unstable and veered off its intended path. The plane subsequently impacted the ocean surface at a distance of several hundred yards from the shoreline. There were no survivors of the impact; the crash resulted in ten fatalities among the crew members on board.

Findings

No specific technical cause for the loss of control was identified in the available reports, though it is confirmed that the aircraft went out of control during its ascent.

Probable cause

The aircraft lost control during the climb phase following takeoff from Nassau-Oaks Field.