What happened
The incident involved a twin-engine military aircraft operated by the 2nd Air Observation School. The crew was returning to RAAF Laverton after completing a reconnaissance mission off the Australian coast aimed at tracing submarine activity. During the return leg, the aircraft suffered a complete loss of fuel. Recognizing the critical situation, the pilot instructed the remaining crew members to abandon the aircraft via parachute. Both other crew members successfully ejected and landed safely.
The pilot attempted an emergency landing but lost control of the airframe before it could touch down. The aircraft crashed into a field located 13 km west of Tantanoola and immediately burst into flames. The pilot was killed in the accident, while the two other crew members survived the incident.