The US Navy has mapped the wreckage of a C-2A Greyhound aircraft that crashed into the Philippine Sea in November 2017.
The navy carried out the mission from aboard research vessel RV Petrel using the vessel’s side scan sonar and remote operated vehicle (ROV) to survey the aircraft from Feb. 2-5.
The team determined the aircraft lies on the ocean floor in two main sections – cockpit and fuselage – and that the C-2A’s flight recorder or black box is still intact.
Planning continues for an upcoming salvage mission, during which every effort will be made to bring both sections to the surface despite very challenging environmental conditions.
At a depth of 18,500 feet (more than three nautical miles) this will be the deepest aircraft recovery to date and the team will have to contend with several variables including deep water rigging and weather that may affect retrieval.
The aircraft was initially discovered late last year (Dec. 29) by a US Navy Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV) team using a towed pinger locator (TPL-25) system aboard a different contracted vessel. In January, the Navy contracted RV Petrel to support debris field mapping and inform aircraft recovery planning.
The C-2A aircraft with 11 crew and passengers was en route to aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan when it crashed on November 22, 2017. Eight personnel were recovered immediately by US Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC 12). For the next three days, Ronald Reagan led combined search and rescue for three sailors with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF), covering nearly 1,000 square nautical miles before ending the search.