Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Luqa

Date & Time: May 20, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AMUT
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Northolt – Luqa
MSN:
MW185
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed long and the touchdown was reported 1,700 feet past the runway threshold. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest after it struck a wall. All three crew members were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Stansted: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AMUN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luqa – Stansted
MSN:
SET55
YOM:
1947
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Malta-Luqa to Stansted. On approach, the visibility was limited due to poor weather conditions and the captain decided to make a go around. Few minutes later, a second attempt to land was also abandoned. During a third approach, the pilot-in-command descended below the glide, apparently to establish a visual contact with the ground, when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames 0.75 mile short of runway threshold. The airplane was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to an error on the part of the captain in that whilst making an attempt to land he continued the approach below the critical height without sufficient visual reference to the ground.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Cape Perry

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-HFP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
MW233
YOM:
1946
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Cape Perry Airfield, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties and overran. It lost its right main gear and came to rest down an embankment. All three crew members were uninjured but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 near Rankin Inlet

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-HIQ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rankin Inlet – Churchill
MSN:
SET18
YOM:
1946
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Rankin Inlet, the crew encountered technical problems and decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed on the coast of the Hudson Bay, about 33 km south of Rankin Inlet. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 near Fort Chimo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-HMW
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Frobisher Bay – Fort Chimo
MSN:
MW136
YOM:
1944
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route to Kuujjuaq, the crew encountered technical problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The four engine aircraft crashed 44 km north of Kuujjuaq. Two crew members were killed while the third occupant was rescued.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Hall Beach

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-HFQ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
SET16
YOM:
1946
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the captain decided to abandon the departure and started an emergency braking procedure for unknown reason. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the four engine aircraft overran, lost its right main gear and came to rest. All three crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Stansted: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1956 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AMUL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stansted – Luqa – Habbaniya
MSN:
MW308
YOM:
1946
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
49
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The flight was to be via Malta to Habbaniya, Iraq, and was being made on charter by the Air Ministry to carry RAF personnel and their families. On board were 5 crew members, 45 passengers and four babies. The take-off run was begun at approximately 0930 hours Greenwich Mean Time. After travelling some 300 yards along the temporary runway, the aircraft developed a swing to starboard with a consequential skidding movement of the tires so severe that within a further distance of less than 100 yards it left the runway on the starboard side still under the influence of the swing, skidding and travelling at about 45 knots. On reaching a 'French' drain some 25 feet from the runway the undercarriage collapsed, the starboard wheel fell clear and the aircraft settled on its belly and on the port wheel. The aircraft finally came to rest pointing back almost in the direction from which it had begun its run. One aircraftsman and a 4-year old girl were killed and 4 other passengers were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
An over-correction of the portward course of the aircraft possibly accompanied by some application of the starboard brake caused the aircraft to swing to starboard off the runway and to encounter the "French" drain with the resulting failure of the undercarriage. The over-correction by the pilot, whether or not accompanied by some application of the starboard brake, should be termed a grave error of judgment and skill rather than a wrongful act or default.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Idris

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGNS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1220
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered a ground accident at Idris Airport prior to takeoff. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Luqa: 50 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1956 at 1323 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ANSY
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luqa – Stansted
MSN:
MW193
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
45
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
50
Circumstances:
The aircraft, which had arrived at Malta at 1046LT on the same day, took off from Luqa Aerodrome, Malta on a flight to Stansted, England. The aircraft became airborne about two thirds of the way down the runway and the undercarriage was retracted. About this time black smoke was seen coming from the No. 1 engine. The aircraft instead of turning to starboard as instructed by the Ground Control appeared to drift to port. The port wing dipped steeply and at 1222-23 hours the aircraft nose-dived into the ground on the cliffs near Zurrieq and blew up on impact. The crew of 5 and 45 passengers were all killed.
Probable cause:
The probable cause of the accident was the failure of No. 1 engine. However, failure alone did not cause the accident, which was caused by loss of speed and consequent loss of control through an error of judgment of the pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Fort Chimo

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-HMU
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
MW203
YOM:
1945
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The rain main gear collapsed on landing. The aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest, damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right main gear on landing.