At approximately 3.15pm on the 18/05/2011, a single Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) PC-9/A aircraft experienced a suspected engine failure and crashed at RAAF Base East Sale Victoria.
The two crew members of the aircraft ejected safely, in accordance with well-practiced emergency response procedures.
Following a swift search and rescue response by base emergency personnel, the crew members were assessed by medics at the scene as being stable and are now being transferred to hospital.
Defence has notified the next of kin and will provide any and all support necessary to the crew and their families.
As a precaution, all RAAF PC-9A flying operations have been temporarily suspended, while the cause of the incident is fully investigated.
The safety of all Defence personnel is the highest priority and the RAAF has in place comprehensive emergency response procedures which were activated during the incident.
---
Update on PC-9/A Pilots
The two aircrew involved in today’s PC-9/A accident have been assessed at hospital to be in a satisfactory condition. The aircrew will be kept overnight at hospital for X-rays and precautionary observation.
An Aviation Accident Investigation Team will be onsite at RAAF Base East Sale on Thursday 19 May to begin the investigation.
Defence has notified the next of kin and will provide any and all support necessary to the crew and their families.
The crew was comprised of a qualified flying instructor and an instructor trainee (ie, a qualified pilot training to become an instructor of other pilots), undertaking a routine training flight.
The aircraft crashed about 1 kilometre short of a runway, on the edge of the base. There were no other personnel involved in the incident.
---
Update on PC-9A aircraft incident
Squadron Leader Bruce Collenette, a qualified flying instructor aged 45, remains in a satisfactory condition in hospital.
Flight Lieutenant Steve Andrews, a qualified pilot and instructor trainee aged 28, remains in a satisfactory condition, but has been transferred to Melbourne for further testing and specialist care.
Both are in good spirits.
Overnight, the details of their routine training flight have been confirmed. The crew were undertaking a routine training flight. On climb out of the airfield, the aircraft lost power approximately 9 kilometres from the airfield and turned back towards East Sale.
Power could not be restored to the engine, so the crew followed the engine shutdown procedures checklist. The crew did not have sufficient glide potential to reach the runway, so ejected from the aircraft in line with standing procedures.
Their response was testament to their high level skills and training. Air Force is providing support to them and their families, and wishes them a speedy recovery.