The flight operator, Aeromarine West Indies Airways, would shut down the following year due to financial losses.

[7] The pilot glided around a few times in an attempt to smooth out the landing due to rough sea conditions present in the area.

Unfortunately, the plane instead ended up landing in "the trough of a big wave", which instantly crushed the center of the passenger cabin.

The plane quickly began to sink due to violent landing and the 10–15 (or 15–20) foot waves present in the straits.

[1][11]) The three surviving passengers were Atkins' wife, the family nurse, Julia Haverty, and wealthy New York banker/broker Otto Abrams (or Abrahams).

[4] Searches for the bodies of the four lost passengers were launched shortly afterwards, but with little hope due to conditions at sea at the time and shark activity in the area.

[12][14] Despite having carried over 20,000 passengers with a perfect safety record by 1923, financial impacts from the loss of Columbus would devastate Aeromarine.