This was one of three notable aviation incidents to occur on this date; the other two were the crash of American Airlines Flight 320 in New York City, and the death of rock and roll artists Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J.P. Richardson.

During his absence, the autopilot disengaged and the aircraft smoothly and slowly entered a steep descending spiral.

[3] Evidence was subsequently given to the then United States Civil Aeronautics Board that the aircraft was flying at 35,000 ft (11,000 m) at Mach 0.82 and at a weight of about 195,000 lb (88,000 kg).

During the previous two flights the Bendix PB-20 autopilot was reported in one case to have caused a nose-down pitch and in another to have disconnected following a change of heading of 20 degrees, but on February 3 operation was found to be normal on arrival at Gander.

Flight magazine's issue of 3 April 1959 reported, "Captain Waldo Lynch, the pilot-in-command, said that the aircraft went into a sharp manoeuvre downward and to the right.

At 17,000 ft (5,200 m) the airspeed was over 400 kt, the electric trim button was inoperative, and his gyro horizon had tumbled.

Aviation Safety Network reports the cause of the incident as unintentional disconnection of autopilot while the captain had left the cockpit to enter the passenger cabin.