What happened
The aircraft was operating on a search and rescue mission in response to the sinking of the British steamer *Westmoreland*, which had been attacked by a German U-boat. While flying at low altitude, the seaplane crashed into the ocean approximately 100 kilometers off Hamilton, Bermuda. The incident resulted in the deaths of all 13 crew members on board. Despite subsequent efforts, no trace of the aircraft or the personnel was ever recovered from the site.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the exact cause of the accident could not be determined due to a lack of physical evidence. However, authorities believed that the aircraft likely encountered a downdraft near coordinates 37° 31' N and 67° W, which may have contributed to the loss of control and subsequent crash.