Avro 685 York

Operator:

Registration:

MW301

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Abingdon - Abingdon

MSN:

SET33

YOM:

1946

Location:

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Circumstances:

While descending to RAF Abingdon, while on a local training sortie, the captain was forced to shut down the engine number three due to an excessive temperature. As the aircraft was unstable on approach, the captain decided to make a go around when the engine number four overheat. Simultaneously, the approach light system failed. In dark, the crew decided to land immediately, raised the undercarriage and crash landed in a field short of runway threshold. While all five crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The cause of the number three engine overheat was attributed to the failure of the thermostatic valve. The reason of the temperature raise on the engine number four was attributed to the same reason, but this time, the failure of the thermostatic valve was caused by a faulty assembly on part of the manufacturer. The cause of the failure on the approach light system remains unknown.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in RAF Dishforth

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

MW284

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dishforth - Dishforth

MSN:

SET24

YOM:

1946

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

Three student pilots and one instructor were completing a training sortie consisting of touch and goes. For unknown reason, the pilot in command failed to complete the flare properly, causing the aircraft to hit the runway surface. The aircraft bounced and the instructor decided to make a go around. At that time, the aircraft stalled and hit again the runway, swerved and came to rest in flames. All four crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot in command and poor supervision on part of the instructor.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Mumbai

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

MW293

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Mumbai - Mumbai

MSN:

SET17

YOM:

1946

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a training flight in Bombay-Santa Cruz Airport, consisting of touch and goes. On final approach, the instructor voluntarily shut down one engine. During the last segment, the aircraft banked left and right and the control became difficult. In such conditions, the instructor decided to raise the undercarriage, increased power on the three remaining engines and started a go around. The aircraft stalled and hit the runway surface, slid on its belly for several yards and came to rest. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in RAF Lyneham

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

MW207

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

MW207

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

After landing, the brakes failed. The aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and collided with an embankment. All six occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the brakes system due to a leak on a hydraulic line.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in RAF Dishforth

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

MW223

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dishforth - Dishforth

MSN:

MW223

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a training sortie in RAF Dishforth. Upon landing, while decelerating, the engine number two caught fire. The captain applied full brakes and stopped the aircraft. All five crew members were able to leave the cabin before the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Failure of a hydraulic line connected to the landing gear, causing the fluid to flow into the number two engine's nacelle. In contact with high temperature parts, the fluid caught fire.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Morón AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1947 at 1330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

LV-XIH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Morón - Morón

MSN:

1366

YOM:

1946

Location:

Morón AFB

Buenos Aires province

Country:

Argentina

Region:

South America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew consisting of pilots and engineers was completing a test flight in Morón AFB following engine maintenance. After touchdown, the aircraft collided with a tank-truck that was mistakenly on the runway. The truck and the airplane exploded. Two crew members and the truck driver were killed while four other occupants were injured.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in London-Heathrow

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AIUP

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Berlin – London

MSN:

1374

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

After landing, the four engine aircraft encountered brakes problem and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came across a river 250 yards further on. All 24 occupants were evacuated safely, four of them were slightly injured. The aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Failure of brake systems due to a broken cable, probably due to an excessive use during the preceding days.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in Shaibah AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1947 at 2240 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGNR

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

London – Luqa – Cairo – Basra – Karachi – New Delhi – Calcutta

MSN:

1219

YOM:

1945

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

Enroute from Cairo to Basra, the crew was informed by ATC about poor weather in Basra and was instructed to divert to the Shaibah AFB located east of Basra. On approach by night, the pilot was unable to locate the runway and was forced to abandon the landing procedure for a go around. A second attempt to land and a third approach few minutes later were abandoned as well. During the fourth trial, the captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground when the four engine aircraft hit the ground and bounced. It gain few meters, flew over a wooded area and eventually stalled and crashed 740 yards further, in a desert area. All six crew members were killed while 12 passengers were injured.

Probable cause:

An error on the part of the pilot in continuing the flight in unsuitable weather conditions coupled with a lack of cooperation on part of the Air Traffic Control.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in RAF Oakington: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

MW224

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: