Date:	Tuesday 17 July 1973
Time:
Type:	McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG Mk 1
Owner/operator:	892 Sqn FAA RN
Registration:	XT871
MSN:	2666
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Firth of Forth near the Isle of May, South East Scotland -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	HMS Ark Royal, North Sea, off East coast of Scotland
Destination airport:	RAF Leuchars (EGQL)
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
On 17/7/1973, Phantom FG.1 XT871 suffered an engine failure on take-off from HMS Ark Royal and ditched into the Firth of Forth near the Isle of May, South East Scotland. Both crew - named as Lt. J. C. Gunning (pilot) and Lt. R. C. O'Connor (navigator) ejected safely, and were rescued by HMS Ark Royal's "plane guard" helicopter.

Wreckage recovered to RNAS lee-on-Solent for accident investigation (noted there 13/03/1974)

1. http://www.ukserials.com/losses-1973.htm
2. http://web.archive.org/web/20170421174927/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/PROJECT/YEAR_Pages/1973.htm#jul
3. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://www.myaviation.net/search/photo_search.php?id=01712357]
4. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://www.phantomf4k.org/resources/4271/imageGallery/1974_03_13__Phantom_FG1_XT871__Lee_on_Solent_mbq.jpg]

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
16-Nov-2011 14:44	Dr. John Smith	Added
16-Jan-2012 14:18	Nepa	Updated [Aircraft type, Operator]
17-Jan-2013 13:40	Nepa	Updated [Operator, Narrative]
16-Jun-2013 22:12	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Cn, Source, Embed code]
30-Jul-2015 19:12	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Aircraft type, Departure airport, Source, Narrative]