The accident was caused by a sudden and improper course change by the freighter, which turned toward the carrier at close range, leaving insufficient time to avoid impact. The collision tore into Midway’s side, causing heavy structural damage to sections of the hull and flight-deck sponsons. Several aircraft parked on the flight deck were damaged as the force of the collision shook the massive warship, a rare and alarming sight for a carrier built to survive combat, not peacetime accidents. Despite the severity of the damage, Midway remained afloat and operational, underscoring both the resilience of Cold War–era U.S. carriers and the constant danger posed by navigation errors even far from the battlefield.