Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian IV in San Andres de Giles: 31 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1960 at 1950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T-102
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lima – Antofagasta – El Palomar
MSN:
1464
YOM:
1946
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was completing a flight from Lima to El Palomar Airbase in Buenos Aires with an intermediate stop at Antofagasta on behalf of the Correo Aéreo Militar al Exterior (CAME). While approaching Buenos Aires from the west, the crew encountered poor weather conditions when control was lost. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in flames in a field located in San Andres de Giles, about 80 km west of El Palomar Airbase. The aircraft was destroyed and all 31 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the loss of control occurred while the crew was flying under VFR mode in IMC conditions.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian 4 in La Paz: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1958 at 1158 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T-66
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Buenos Aires – La Paz
MSN:
1402
YOM:
1946
Country:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
On landing, the four engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. Two passengers and the mechanic were killed while nine other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian C.2 at RAF Hucknall: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VL970
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hucknall - Hucknall
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local test flight at RAF Hucknall on behalf of the Rolls Royce motorist. On short final, the pilot-in-command decided to make a go around when control was lost. A wing hit the ground and the airplane crashed, killing all four crew members.

Crash of a Avro 691 Lancastrian 3 in Sydney

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-EAV
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Sydney – Auckland
MSN:
1291
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While accelerating during the takeoff run, the four engine aircraft deviated to the left. The captain applied right rudder and advanced the throttles with the number one engine leading to compensate. Unfortunately, the number one engine failed. Despite this corrective action, the airplane went out of control and veered off runway to the right. When it departed the pavement, the right main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft came to rest. All seven crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the engine number one during takeoff procedure.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian in Dakar

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-AHBX
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Buenos Aires – Rio de Janeiro – Natal – Dakar – Algiers – Rome
MSN:
1292
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the four engine aircraft christened 'Maestrale' went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. All 13 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian I in Castel Benito

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGMM
MSN:
1192
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian 4 in Berlin

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AKFH
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
London – Berlin
MSN:
485422
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft landed hard and bounced several times, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian XPP in Ludwiglust

Date & Time: May 10, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AKDP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Berlin – Lübeck
MSN:
3386
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Berlin to Lübeck, taking part to the Berlin Airlift, the crew encountered control problems. The captain decided to reduce his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in an open field located west of Ludwiglust. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all four crew members were unhurt.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian I in Dubbo

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1949 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-EAS
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dubbo - Dubbo
MSN:
1184
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training mission. After several landings and takeoffs completed, the crew consisting of one instructor and seven pilots under supervision decided to perform a flapless landing. After touchdown, the pilot in command realized that his speed was too high and that he would be unable to stop within the remaining distance. He took the decision to make a sharp turn to the right to vacate the runway when the left main gear collapsed. The left wing contacted the ground and was sheared off at the root, causing the fuel to flow on the ground and to ignite while contacting sparks generated by the friction of the metal with the runway surface. The aircraft veered off runway and came to rest in flames. All eight occupants were quickly evacuated while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The crew attempted a flapless landing under unsuitable meteorological and wind conditions.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian III in Conholt: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1948 at 1708 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHJW
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wünsdorf – Tarrant Rushton
MSN:
RSLB127336
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft was ferried to RAF Tarrant Rushton for maintenance. While descending from the northeast, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In low visibility, the pilot started the approach when the four engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in flames on a hilly terrain located in Conholt, about 38 miles northeast of RAF Tarrant Rushton. A crew member was seriously injured while seven other occupants were killed. It was determined that the aircraft was off course at the time of the accident.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine with certainty the reason for the deviation from. Nevertheless, it may be possible that the aircraft was being 'homed' on the Netheravon Beacon.