What happened
The incident involved a twin-engine aircraft operating a flight from Honiara-Henderson Field with a destination in New Zealand. During the cruise phase, while flying off the coast of Guadalcanal Island, the aircraft encountered poor weather conditions. In these circumstances, the plane went out of control and subsequently crashed into the sea located south of the island.
The accident resulted in fatal consequences for everyone on board. All five crew members were killed in the event. The individuals identified as part of the 2nd Squadron crew included F/Sgt Charles St John, Sgt Stanley Claughton, F/Sgt Patrick Maher, Sgt John Leonard, and Sgt Vere Mullany.
Findings
The source material indicates that the aircraft lost control while operating in poor weather conditions during the cruise phase of the flight. No further specific technical findings or detailed causal analysis are provided in the available records.