On the morning of February 18, 1979, the Japanese fishing vessel Kaisei Maru #18 sent a distress call requesting an injured crewman be airlifted off the ship, which was operating in the North Atlantic Ocean. CG-1432, a Sikorsky HH-3F Pelican helicopter based at Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts, was alerted and ordered to conduct the rescue.
En route to the scene the helicopter lost power and was forced to ditch into the water. It remained stable for a brief period time before heavy seas rolled it, trapping most of the aircrew inside. Four crew members, including Canadian Armed Forces Captain G. Richard Burge, U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander James Stiles, Petty Officer Second Class John Tait, and Petty Officer Second Class Bruce Kaehler were killed. The lone survivor, Petty Officer Second Class Mark Torr, successfully egressed and was later rescued by the Kaisei Maru #18.
| Name | Rating | Duty Station | Date |
| Tait, J. B. | AT2 | AIRSTA Cape Cod, MA | 2/18/1979 |
| Kaehler, B. A. | HM2 | AIRSTA Cape Cod, MA | 2/18/1979 |