A9-754

On April 26, 1991 at 12:00 AM, A9-754 experienced a crash involving Lockheed P-3 Orion, operated by Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF, with the event recorded near Cocos Islands (Keeling Islands) Western Australia.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

21 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 20 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 4.8%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 17, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The aircraft was engaged in a local flight and was carrying 17 passengers and a crew of four. After takeoff from Cocos Island Airport, the crew climbed to 5,000 feet then reduced his altitude for a low pass over the airport. Approaching the airport at a speed of 380 knots and at a height of about 300 feet, the pilot-in-command increased engine power in a way to gain height when the aircraft lost several pieces from the left wing. Due to severe vibrations and problems of controllability, the crew decided to attempt an emergency landing near the airport. The aircraft struck the ground, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in shallow water. A passenger was killed after being hit by propeller blades that punctured the fuselage. All 20 other occupants escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Aircraft reference details include registration A9-754, MSN 185-5662, year of manufacture 1978.