Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Wünsdorf AFB

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
MW245
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wünsdorf – Northolt
MSN:
MW245
YOM:
1946
Location:
Wünsdorf AFB
Brandenburg
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft suffered severe vibrations with the ailerons and the captain decided to abort the takeoff procedure. He realized that it would not be possible to stop the aircraft within the runway end, so he raised the undercarriage and the aircraft sank on its belly. It then slid for several yards, overran and came to rest against an earth mound. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident remains unknown but it was reported that a maintenance was made on the aircraft shortly before the accident. It is understood that some mechanics failed to follow some maintenance procedures and that certain parts were not original, which was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK Dakota C.3 in Sywell

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1948 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGIX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Edinburgh – Northolt
MSN:
12053
YOM:
1943
Location:
Sywell
Northamptonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route to RAF Northolt, the crew encountered technical problem with the right engine and was forced to shut it down and to feather its propeller. As the aircraft was unable to maintain the prescribed altitude, the crew decided to divert to Sywell. On final approach, the aircraft was misaligned and overflew the runway at low height before colliding with power cables. Out of control, it crashed in a field and came to rest. All 19 occupants were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by an error of judgement on the part of the pilot whilst attempting a single engine landing in dusk conditions. The malfunctioning of the starboard engine constant speed unit was due to the failure if the filter gauze in fatigue. The subsequent surging and over speeding was due to restriction to free movement of the control valve, occasioned by the passage of pieces of filter wire through the unit.

Crash of a Douglas DC-6 in Northwood: 32 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1948 at 1503 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-6
Operator:
Registration:
SE-BDA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Stockholm – Amsterdam – Northolt
MSN:
43119
YOM:
1948
Location:
Northwood
London Metropolis
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
32
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft christened 'Agnar Viking' was approaching RAF Northolt when the crew encountered low visibility due to poor weather conditions. After being cleared by ATC to descent to 2,500 feet, the crew was unable to locate the airport and decided to return to Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport. Few minutes later, while climbing to an altitude of 3,000 feet, the aircraft collided with a Royal Air Force Avro 685 York C.1 registered MW248. This second aircraft was completing a flight from Malta-Luqa with four passengers and a crew of three. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located in Northwood, about 4 miles north of RAF Northolt. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 39 people were killed.
Probable cause:
The cause of the loss must in all probability be found in the field of human fallibility on the part of those responsible for the control of the aircraft from the ground or the flight of the aircraft in the air. Investigators found that the separation of 500 feet in force in the Northolt area, provided an inadequate margin of safety and recommended that it should be increased to 1,000 feet for the Metropolitan Control Zone. The report also discussed the standard setting for altimeters (known as QFF) that had been introduced in May 1948 for aircraft above 1,500 feet within control zones, and that any error in setting the barometric pressure of one millibar gave an error of 28 feet.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Northwood: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1948 at 1503 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
MW248
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Luqa - Northolt
MSN:
MW248
YOM:
1946
Location:
Northwood
London Metropolis
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Malta-Luqa Airport bound for RAF Northolt with four passengers and a crew of three on board. While approaching the London area, the crew encountered low visibility due to poor weather conditions. The crew was cleared to descent to 3,000 feet when the aircraft collided with a Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) DC-6 registered SE-BDA. Inbound from Amsterdam, this second aircraft was carrying 25 passengers and a crew of 7. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located in Northwood, about 4 miles north of RAF Northolt. Both aircraft were destroyed and all 39 people were killed. Among the passenger of the York was Sir Gerard Edward James, High Commissioner in Malaysia for Her Majesty the Queen of England.
Probable cause:
The cause of the loss must in all probability be found in the field of human fallibility on the part of those responsible for the control of the aircraft from the ground or the flight of the aircraft in the air. Investigators found that the separation of 500 feet in force in the Northolt area, provided an inadequate margin of safety and recommended that it should be increased to 1,000 feet for the Metropolitan Control Zone. The report also discussed the standard setting for altimeters (known as QFF) that had been introduced in May 1948 for aircraft above 1,500 feet within control zones, and that any error in setting the barometric pressure of one millibar gave an error of 28 feet.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 in Verquières: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Avro 694 Lincoln
Operator:
Registration:
RF474
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Northolt – Luqa
Location:
Verquières
Bouches-du-Rhône
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Prior to departure, the crew was briefed about the poor weather conditions in south of France and that he should avoid this area. While cruising southeast of Avignon, the aircraft went through a low pressure zone with cumulonimbus. It encountered severe turbulences, lost two engines and its tail, went into a dive and crashed in a field in Verquières. All 11 occupants were killed. It appears that few elements of the aircraft broke off due to severe turbulences that exceeded their certification.

Crash of a Vickers 610 Viking 1B near Glasgow

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1948 at 2001 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viking
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIVE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Northolt – Glasgow
MSN:
218
YOM:
1946
Flight number:
BE200P
Location:
Glasgow
Strathclyde
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left RAF Northolt at 1809LT bound for Glasgow-Renfrew Airport. At 1946LT, while cruising at an altitude of 4,700 feet, the captain contacted ATC to obtain the permission to descend to Renfrew. Few minutes later, he requested if the outer marker was operative. Shortly later, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Irish Law and crashed. All 20 occupants were quickly rescued, two of them were slightly injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Poor judgement on part of the captain who continued the approach at a too low altitude to maintain a safe distance with the ground. The failure to receive the outer marker beacon signal was considered as a contributory factor, as well as the low visibility caused by marginal weather conditions.

Crash of a Vickers 610 Viking 1B in Northolt: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1948 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viking
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHPK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Glasgow – Northolt
MSN:
148
YOM:
1947
Location:
Northolt AFB
London Metropolis
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On approach to Northolt Airport, about seven km from the runway threshold, the captain decided to make a go around and informed ATC he was unable to distinguish the runway due to poor weather conditions. A second and a third attempt to land were aborted few minutes later. During the fourth attempt, the aircraft was too low and hit tree tops before crashing in a field located 4 km short of the runway threshold. 17 occupants were injured while a passenger was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to the aircraft flying into trees in conditions of poor visibility while the pilot was attempting a visual or bad weather timed approach (or circuit) to the airport. The pilot committed an error of judgement in not asking for diversion to another airport after he had failed to land by the aid of the Beam. An incorrect altimeter setting cannot be dismissed as a possible contributory cause.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Luqa

Date & Time: May 24, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
MW190
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Northolt – Luqa
MSN:
MW190
YOM:
1945
Location:
Luqa
Malta
Country:
Malta
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Luqa Airport, the four engine aircraft was too low and hit a stone pile located in a stone-pit. The undercarriage were partially sheared off and the aircraft belly landed and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. For unknown reason, the crew continued the final approach at an insufficient altitude.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Negombo: 11 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
MW198
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Negombo – Northolt
MSN:
MW198
YOM:
1945
Location:
Negombo
Western Province (மேல் மாகாணம்)
Country:
Sri Lanka
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the engine # 3 failed. The captain elected to fly over the sea to ditch the aircraft but the York stalled, hit palms and crashed 5 km from the airport. All four crew members and 7 passengers were killed, three passengers were injured while six others were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the technical problem on engine # 3 was not determined. However, it is believed that the crew inadvertently shut down the engine # 4 instead of # 3, causing the heavy aircraft to lose height and crash.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Ruislip

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGZA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Northolt – Glasgow
MSN:
12455
YOM:
1944
Location:
Northolt AFB
London Metropolis
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airport of Northolt was closed for arrivals for few hours and only few departures were allowed. After as long waiting time, the crew of G-AGZA received the permission to takeoff bound for Glasgow. The pilot increased power on both engines, started the takeoff procedure and completed the rotation at a speed of 85 knots. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft encountered serious difficulties to gain height and was in a constant stall attitude. Then, it hit a house located in Ruislip, north of the airfield, and came to rest on its roof. Fortunately, the aircraft did not caught fire and the cabin remained quite intact. All five occupants were injured, the captain seriously. Into the damaged house, a fourth months baby was miraculously found unhurt.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew did not prepare the flight properly and forgot to remove the snow on the aircraft prior to takeoff. Due to snow falls, the fuselage, wings, elevators and tail were covered by snow. Thus, the performances were reduced, the aerodynamic properties were modified, the airspeed was insufficient, the total weight was to high with too much drag as well.
Subscribe to Northolt AFB