Avro 691 Lancastrian

Operator:

OnzeAir

Registration:

AP-ACM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Chaklala – Mauripur

MSN:

37031

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:

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Chaklala Airport in Islamabad, carrying a load of military goods. On final approach to Mauripur Airport, while at an altitude of 300 feet, the aircraft pitched up and down and then went into a nose down attitude. Out of control, it plunged into the earth and crashed in a near vertical angle near the runway 22 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Poor judgement on the part of the crew who led the aircraft stalling on final approach. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- the airplane was probably overloaded,
- the center of gravity was probably out of the enveloppe when control was lost,
- as the load was not properly secured, it probably shifted during the approach.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian III in Hamilton

Date & Time: Nov 13, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGWG

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

London – Horta – Hamilton – Havana

MSN:

1279

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After takeoff from Hamilton bound for Havana, while climbing to a height of 9,000 feet, the engine number four caught fire. The crew elected to return to Hamilton-Kindley Field for an emergency landing. On final approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. All 16 occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the failure on engine number four remains unknown. However, it was determined that on final approach, the aircraft stalled when the crew selected full flaps down. At that time, the crew was subject to a certain tension due to the emergency situation and their perception, reaction and judgement were reduced, maybe due to the high concentration of fuel vapor in the cockpit, which remains a contributory factor.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster B3 in Heathrow

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGUL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

London-Heathrow - London-Heathrow

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a night training mission in London-Heathrow Airport. On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, ground looped and came to rest. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft christened 'Star Watch' was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian 3 in Belfast

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AHBU

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1289

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The takeoff was attempted in poor weather conditions. During takeoff roll started in visual reference, the visibility was insufficient and the captain decided to swap to instrument references. Control was lost and the airplane skidded and then swerved before coming to rest in the Cromlin river. All three crew members were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian III in Hamilton

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGWK

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

London – Horta – Hamilton – Havana

MSN:

1283

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Bermuda on a flight from London to Havana, the crew was instructed by ATC to stack due to poor weather conditions (thunderstorm). After 90 minutes, the crew was cleared to land at Hamilton-Kindley Field and started the approach that was completed in marginal weather conditions and poor visibility. Too low, the four engine aircraft christened 'Star Trail' hit a radio mast, stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway. All 20 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian III on Mt Tupungato: 11 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1947 at 1441 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGWH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

London – Lisbon – Banjul – Natal – Buenos Aires – Santiago de Chile

MSN:

1280

YOM:

1945

Flight number:

CS59

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

1971

Captain / Total hours on type:

473.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2129

Copilot / Total hours on type:

127

Aircraft flight hours:

1655

Circumstances:

After passing over Mendoza, enroute to Santiago de Chile, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with strong winds (up to 180 km/h) and heavy snow falls. While cruising at an altitude of 15,000 feet, the four engine aircraft christened 'Star Dust' hit the slope of Mt Tupungaro located in the Argentinian Andes. As the airplane failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. About 53 years later, in 2000, an official mission conducted by Argentinian Army Officers and Scientists was organized to find the aircraft. Few debris and three bodies were found and repatriated down to the valley.

Probable cause:

In 1947, through lack of evidence due to no wreckage having been found, the cause of the accident remained obscure. The possibility of severe icing cannot be ignored. Later, in 2001, an investigation commission conducted by Argentinian and British experts concluded that the accident was probably caused by a premature descent on part of the crew due to strong head winds. The presence of strong winds at high altitude reduced the speed of the aircraft and the crew was not aware of these winds. Due to lack of visibility, the crew started the descent and was not able to distinguish the mountains.

Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian in Natal: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1947 at 2307 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

LV-ACS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Buenos Aires – Rio de Janeiro – Natal – Dakar – Lisbon – Paris – London

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On touchdown by night at Natal Airport, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, collided with airport facilities and came to rest in flames. Three crew members and two passengers were killed while 13 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian I in H3 Oil Station

Date & Time: May 11, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGLF

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cairo – Basra

MSN:

1172

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Enroute from Cairo to Basra on a cargo flight, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to divert to the H3 Oil Station Airfield for an emergency landing. The four engine aircraft crash landed and came to rest. All four occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian III in Bathurst

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGWJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: