Richmond - Richmond

On February 4, 1959 at 12:00 AM, Richmond - Richmond experienced a crash involving Lockheed P-2 Neptune, operated by Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF, with the event recorded near Richmond AFB New South Wales.

The flight was categorized as training and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

8 people were known to be on board, 8 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 8, crew fatalities: 8, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The crew was engaged in a local training mission out from Richmond AFB, NSW. En route, a fire erupted in the right engine nacelle and the crew obtained the permission to return for an emergency landing. The fire quickly spread to the engine and the right wing which detached shortly later. Out of control, the airplane crashed in a prairie and was totally destroyed upon impact. All eight crew members were killed. Crew (11th Squadron): S/Ldr Geoffrey Ronald Cullen, pilot, P/O George Ivan Holmes, copilot, F/Lt Robert Alfred De-Russett-Kydd, navigator, F/Sgt John Michael Rock, navigator, S/Ldr Joseph Kevin McDonald, signaler, F/O Frederick John Wood, signaler, P/O Terence Patrick O'Sullivan, signaler, W/O Vincent Joseph McCarthy, signaler.

Aircraft reference details include registration A89-308, MSN 426-5087.