Crash of a Hawker-Siddeley HS-125-3B in Edinburgh: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1970 at 1829 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AXPS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Edinburgh - Newcastle
MSN:
25135
YOM:
1967
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
5192
Captain / Total hours on type:
429.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4594
Copilot / Total hours on type:
144
Aircraft flight hours:
1874
Circumstances:
On the day of the accident the aircraft left Bristol under the command of the company's chief pilot for a flight to Edinburgh via East Midlands Airport. After conveying passengers to Edinburgh it was scheduled to position empty at Newcastle Airport to collect passengers for Bristol. Weather briefing had been obtained and a thorough flight plan covering the outward and return flights had been filed before the aircraft left Bristol in the morning. As there were no passengers on the flight from Edinburgh to Newcastle, the captain decided to make use of this sector to continue the other pilot's training for command of the HS-125. Accordingly, the trainee captain was flying the aircraft from the left hand seat. Prior to takeoff he was briefed that a failure of one of the engines (he was not told which one), would be simulated on takeoff and for the purpose of the exercise the rudder bias system would be switched 'OFF'. The pilots decided that no flap would be used for the takeoff which was started from the end of runway 13. The point where the aircraft became airborne was approximately 2,700 feet from the start of the roll, which was normal for the aircraft's weight and configuration, with both engines operating. The training captain called 'rotate' at approximately 120 knots, which was slightly faster than the calculated figure and when the aircraft had reached a height of approximately 12 feet and had accelerated to about 130 knots, he pulled back the thrust lever of the port engine to simulate a failure. He considered that the trainee pilot's reaction to the emergency was slow and was just about to apply right rudder to counteract the yaw when the trainee pilot applied considerable force to the left rudder and locked his leg in position. The captain immediately applied full right aileron and opened the port thrust lever but he was unable to prevent a high rate of roll developing to the left. Approximately 700 feet after the point where the aircraft became airborne the port wing tip struck the runway, fracturing the port fuel tank and spilling out fuel. The aircraft left the runway at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the left and travelled across the grass, becoming partially inverted before settling back sideways on the ground on its undercarriage. The sideways movement of the aircraft pulled off the nose gear and the aircraft then gyrated across the airfield sustaining further structural damage before coming to rest on its main wheels and tail facing approximately in the opposite direction to the direction of takeoff. During the aircraft's gyrations on the ground, fuel, which was centrifuged out of the fractured port tank, ignited and a flash fire occurred. When the aircraft finally came to rest there was a small residual fire in the port wing which was very quickly extinguished by the airport fire service.
Probable cause:
The application of incorrect rudder following a simulated engine failure on take-off. The reason for this application of incorrect rudder has not been determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a BAe 125-400A in Wabush: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1969 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-CFL
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Churchill Falls - Wabush - Montreal
MSN:
25193/NA725
YOM:
1969
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft departed Churchill Falls Airport at 1800LT on a flight to Montreal with an intermediate stop in Wabush (Labrador City). On final approach, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and failed to realize his altitude was insufficient. Out of track, the airplane struck trees then crashed on a mountainous terrain located few km from the airport. The controller at Wabush Airport informed Moncton ATC about the disappearance of the aircraft and SAR operations were initiated. All eight occupants were killed, among them Donald J. McParland, President of Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation, his assistant John Lethbridge, Eric Lambert and three employees of the Acres Canadian Bechtel.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was off course on approach after the crew referred to the wrong NDB. Low visibility caused by poor weather conditions was a contributing factor.

Crash of a Hawker-Siddeley HS.125-3B in Luton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AVGW
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luton - Luton
MSN:
25120
YOM:
1967
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Luton Airport. Shortly after takeoff with an engine voluntarily shut down, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames onto a factory near the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew were killed while no one on the ground was injured.
Probable cause:
Loss of control shortly after takeoff with an engine inoperative, which probably reduced the aircraft capabilities.

Crash of a Hawker-Siddeley HS.125-1A/522 off Freeport: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1966 at 2014 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N235KC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Miami – Freeport
MSN:
25096
YOM:
1966
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
6300
Captain / Total hours on type:
152.00
Circumstances:
The pilot departed Miami on a private flight to Freeport with his spouse on board. He did not file any flight plan and failed to ask for a copilot. During a night approach to Freeport Airport, in dark night, the twin engine airplane struck the water surface and crashed into the sea about 7,2 km short of runway, off Pinder Point. The pilot was seriously injured while the passenger's body was not recovered.
Probable cause:
The pilot misjudged altitude and failed to follow the approved procedures. The controlled descent into water was probably the consequence of a instruments misread or failed to read on part of the pilot.
Final Report:

Crash of a Hawker-Siddeley HS.125-1 off Nice: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1966 at 1712 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BKMF
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cannes - Nice
MSN:
25007
YOM:
1964
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
4601
Captain / Total hours on type:
324.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2080
Copilot / Total hours on type:
50
Aircraft flight hours:
798
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Cannes at 1645LT bound for Nice and the crew was supposed to perform three low pass over the Airport of Nice-Côte d'Azur during a local Airshow. The first path was performed at low height over the runway. The crew then completed a turn to the right in an attempt to make a second low pass but on the opposite direction. Doing so, the airplane climbed to an altitude of 2,000 feet when control was lost. It went into a dive, caught fire in the air and crashed in flames into the sea some 1,5 km southwest of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The stresses applied to the airframe of F-BKMF during the manoeuvre carried out in order to return to the Nice runway, exceeded the design limit loads of the wing unit. A rupture was then caused to the wing unit which resulted in the leakage of a large quantity of fuel from the upper surface near the wing root. The aircraft stalled under the high load factor and the pilot was unable to regain control because of the small height margin and the damage to the aircraft structure. In spite of the considerable stick forces which have to be applied in a normally trimmed aircraft in order to carry out such a manoeuvre, the latter may have been attempted by the pilot, who was experienced, skillful and cautious, in view of the following circumstances: "tight" manoeuvre at low altitude in poor visibility; air display atmosphere (type of flying pre-supposing special training different from the training normally required for a chief pilot of the Air Affaires company); possible anxiety to avoid crossing the flight paths of several aircraft in the vicinity during the display.
Final Report:

Crash of a Hawker-Siddeley HS.125-1A in Des Moines

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1966 at 1357 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N1135K
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Des Moines – Omaha
MSN:
25019
YOM:
1965
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7330
Captain / Total hours on type:
375.00
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command attempted to rotate when an unexpected situation was encountered. The captain decided to abort the takeoff and started an emergency braking procedure. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and struck ditches before coming to rest in a field. While all four passengers were unhurt, both pilots were seriously injured. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Inadequate preflight preparation on part of the crew who attempted to takeoff with the gust locks still engaged. Delayed action in aborting the takeoff was considered as a contributing factor.
Final Report: