Avro 685 York

Operator:

Registration:

MW225

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

National Capital Territory of Delhi

Schedule:

New Delhi – Northolt

MSN:

MW225

YOM:

1945

Location:

New Delhi-Palam

Country:

India

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll, the undercarriage were prematurely raised by one of the crew member. The captain continued and completed the rotation. After takeoff, he informed ATC about the situation and obtained the permission to return for an emergency landing. He completed a turn to the left and landed few minutes later. On touchdown, the undercarriage that were unlocked (due to previous damages) failed and the aircraft sank on its belly and came to rest. There were no casualties while the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Premature raise of the undercarriage during takeoff.

Crash of an Avro 685 York in Calcutta: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1946 at 0727 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

MW208

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Calcutta – Northolt

MSN:

MW208

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, while in initial climb, the engine number two lost power. The captain shut it down and elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field past the runway end. Nine occupants were seriously injured, six were unhurt and three others, among them the pilot and another crew member, were killed. S/Ldr Alexander John Hepburn and S/Ldr Ian Wallace Moreton Taylor from the 51st Squadron were killed.

Probable cause:

The engine number two was not giving full power at takeoff because the spark plugs were heavily coated with carbon and other substances.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 into the Malacca Strait: 21 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1946 at 0730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

MW125

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Northolt – Cairo – Calcutta – Penang – Singapore

MSN:

MW125

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying over the Malacca Strait in poor weather conditions, while on a flight from Northolt to Singapore, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in to the sea about 100 miles west of Pulau Penang. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted and the crew of a RAF Short Sunderland spotted some debris few days later. Unfortunately, few pieces only were found and no trace of the 21 occupants that were considered as deceased. At the time of the accident, weather consisted of thunderstorm and turbulence.
Crew (511th Squadron):
F/Lt Donald Harold Courtenay, pilot,
F/O David John Johns, copilot,
F/O Wilfred Walter Armstrong, navigator,
A1C Francis Norman Beckett,
LAC Tom Bone,
W/O Raymond John Nicholas Bowerman,
A1C Ronald Charles Clarke,
LAC Donald Cowell,
LAC Maldwyn Wallace Davies,
A1C Francis Flood,
A2C George Albert Griffiths,
LAC Roy Leslie Mowser Stilwell,
F/Sgt Ivan Kendrick,
Cpl Ronald Kirk,
LAC James Frederick Latham,
F/Sgt John Johnston Leitch,
F/Lt Clifford James McPherson,
Sgt Timothy Christopher Murphy,
LAC Granville Reginald Pritchard,
W/O Leonard Sawkins,
A2C William Norman Westbury.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in RAF Holmsley South

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

MW184

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

MW184

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Approach and landing were completed by night. After touchdown, the aircraft collided with a pony. The aircraft came to rest and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties among the occupant of the aircraft while the animal was killed.

Probable cause:

Ground collision with an animal.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in Bathurst: 24 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1946 at 0410 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AHEW

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

London – Lisbon – Bathurst – Natal – Rio de Janeiro – Montevideo – Buenos Aires

MSN:

1300

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft arrived in Bathurst at 0243LT from Lisbon and the crew was changed. The departure was performed at 0408LT in fair weather conditions. Two minutes later, while in initial climb, the aircraft failed to gain height and hit few trees with its left wing. It then banked left and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 3 km from the airport. The aircraft christened 'Star Leader' was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 24 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the loss of control during initial climb was probably due to a mishandling of the controls on behalf of the pilot in command. It was confirmed by investigations that it was the captain's first York flight on a scheduled service, and it was also the first takeoff he made in a York loaded to more than 69,000 lb.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in RAF Stradishall

Date & Time: May 28, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

MW250

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

MW250

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After touchdown, the crew started to brake but the aircraft failed to stop, overran, lost its undercarriage and skidded for 100 yards before coming to rest in a ditch. All five crew members from the 51st Squadron were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance due to a failure of the braking systems. It was determined that the failure of the braking systems was caused by an incorrect assembly on part of the RAF technicians.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in Mauripur AFB

Date & Time: May 23, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

MW191

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Northolt – Mauripur

MSN:

MW191

YOM:

1945

Location:

Mauripur AFB (Karachi)

Sindh (سنڌ سندھ)

Country:

Pakistan

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On touchdown, an undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft skidded on its belly for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was reported that the approach configuration was wrong and the pilot landed hard, causing an undercarriage to fail.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in RAF Valley

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

MW256

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

MW256

YOM:

1946

Location:

Valley AFB (Anglesey)

Gwynedd

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to RAF Valley, the four engine aircraft was too low and hit a 3 meters high sand dune located 140 meters short of runway threshold. On impact, the left main gear was sheared off. The aircraft lost height and hit the runway surface and crashed. All five crew members were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The crew misjudged the distance between the aircraft and the ground and completed the last segment of the final approach at a too low altitude.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in RAF Woodbridge: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

MW252

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site: