What happened
During a scheduled maritime patrol mission over the North Pacific Ocean, the crew of a seaplane encountered a critical emergency involving an active fire inside the aircraft. Upon discovering the fire, the radio operator notified Air Traffic Control of the situation and declared an intention to divert the flight to Adak Airport for an emergency landing.
As the aircraft was maneuvering for its approach to the airport, it struck the surface of the ocean a short distance from the coast. The impact occurred just a few miles offshore during the approach phase of the flight. The crash resulted in 12 fatalities, with no survivors reported among the crew members on board.
Findings
- An onboard fire necessitated an immediate emergency diversion to land at Adak.
- The aircraft struck the water surface while attempting to reach the airfield.