What happened
The incident occurred when an aircraft was conducting low-level maneuvers without proper authorization. During these operations, the airframe struck a haystack located approximately 1,500 meters from RAAF Laverton. The impact caused the undercarriage to shear off, leading to a crash shortly after the initial contact with the ground. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident.
The pilot survived the initial impact but sustained critical injuries. He was transported to Caulfield Repatriation Hospital, where he passed away two days later due to his wounds.
Findings
Official investigations attributed the accident to pilot error. The unauthorized nature of the low-level maneuvers and the subsequent collision with ground obstacles were identified as the primary factors leading to the fatal outcome.