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Test Flight Accident Involving New Aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (A9-296)

Moffett AFB, United States of AmericaLanding (descent or approach)

On April 11, 1968, a Lockheed P-3 Orion (registration A9-296) operated by Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF was involved in an aviation accident near Moffett AFB, United States of America during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Undercarriage collapsed upon landing. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A new aircraft intended for the Royal Australian Air Force was destroyed by fire after a main landing gear collapsed during a local test flight. All four crew members escaped uninjured.

Incident Overview During a local test flight, a newly manufactured aircraft that was scheduled for delivery to the Royal Australian Air Force experienced a landing gear failure. The incident occurred upon landing, when one of the main landing gear units collapsed. The aircraft subsequently came to rest in flames and was destroyed by fire. All four crew members on board escaped the accident without injury. The official investigation identified the undercarriage collapse upon landing as the probable cause of the accident. No specific aircraft type, registration, date, operator, or location was provided in the source material.

Structural failure

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 11 Apr 1968 Lockheed P-3 Orion accident near Moffett AFB, United States of America?

A new aircraft intended for the Royal Australian Air Force was destroyed by fire after a main landing gear collapsed during a local test flight. All four crew members escaped uninjured.

Were there any fatalities in the 11 Apr 1968 Lockheed P-3 Orion accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 11 Apr 1968 involved a Lockheed P-3 Orion, registration A9-296, operated by Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF, at Moffett AFB, United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

Undercarriage collapsed upon landing.

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