Moffett - Moffett

The aircraft departed Moffett AFB on a combined survey mission over the Pacific Ocean with a second USN Orion registered 159325 carrying a crew of 13. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, both aircraft collided and crashed in the sea. Few debris were found floating on water about 60 miles southwest of San Diego and all 27 crew members were missing and never recovered.

Flight / Schedule

Moffett - Moffett

Registration

158930

MSN

185-5602

Year of Manufacture

1973

Date

March 21, 1991 at 02:15 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Crash Location

Pacific Ocean All World

Region

World • World

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On March 21, 1991 at 02:15 AM, Moffett - Moffett experienced a crash involving Lockheed P-3 Orion, operated by United States Navy - USN, with the event recorded near Pacific Ocean All World.

The flight was categorized as survey / patrol / reconnaissance and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

14 people were known to be on board, 14 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 14, crew fatalities: 14, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft departed Moffett AFB on a combined survey mission over the Pacific Ocean with a second USN Orion registered 159325 carrying a crew of 13. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, both aircraft collided and crashed in the sea. Few debris were found floating on water about 60 miles southwest of San Diego and all 27 crew members were missing and never recovered.

Aircraft reference details include registration 158930, MSN 185-5602, year of manufacture 1973.

Fatalities

Total

14

Crew

14

Passengers

0

Other

0

Crash Summary

The aircraft departed Moffett AFB on a combined survey mission over the Pacific Ocean with a second USN Orion registered 159325 carrying a crew of 13. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet in marginal weather conditions, both aircraft collided and crashed in the sea. Few debris were found floating on water about 60 miles southwest of San Diego and all 27 crew members were missing and never recovered.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

14

Passengers On Board

0

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 14

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Moffett - Moffett

Flight Type

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Phase

Flight

Crash Site

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Region / Country

World • World

Aircraft Details

Registration

158930

MSN

185-5602

Year of Manufacture

1973