Vickers 466 Wellington XIII | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was completing a training mission at Elefsis AFB. On final approach, during the last segment, the captain decided to make a go around and increased power on both engines. For unknown reason, the aircraft failed to gain height, banked left, causing the left wing to hit the ground. Out of control, the aircraft crashed in flames. The copilot survived while five other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the left engine suffered a technical failure at a critical stage of flight.

Crash of a Vickers 466 Wellington XIII in Burnaston: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1946 at 1415 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 466 Wellington XIII

Operator:

Registration:

NC661

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Shawbury - Shawbury

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The aircraft left RAF Shawbury at 1330LT on a cross country flight. After only 40 minutes in the air the aircraft suffered failure of the starboard engine and was unable to maintain height or airspeed on the port engine alone. The pilot attempted to make a wheels down forced landing in a corn field but had to overshoot, however he did not have sufficient power to recover the airspeed lost in the attempted landing. While attempting to overshoot the aircraft struck a large tree and crashed into the field beyond bursting into flames. The aircraft came to rest in a pit which at the time was surrounded by trees and was destroyed. All six occupants, among them 2 cadets, were killed.
Crew (25th FTC):
W/O John Harold Brewster-Livett, pilot,
F/Lt David Bowie, navigator,
F/Lt John Stanley May, bomb aimer,
W/O Maurice Madams, wireless operator and air gunner.
Passengers:
Robert Sydney Wallace,
Geoffrey Peter Balty.
Source: http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/midlands/midlandsnc661.htm

Crash of a Vickers 466 Wellington XIII off Athens: 8 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 466 Wellington XIII

Operator:

Registration:

MF188

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

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Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

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While cruising at a height of some 1,500 feet during a training exercise and performing a turn to the right, the right engine failed. The crew increased power on left engine and elected to make an emergency landing but the aircraft dove into the sea and crashed off Pireas harbor. The aircraft was lost and all eight crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 466 Wellington XIII on Abu Musa Island

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 466 Wellington XIII

Operator:

Registration:

ME937

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The Wellington flew over the ship christened 'SS Afghanistan' anchored off the island of Abu Musa to drop a message on board. Unfortunately in doing so, the pilot misjudged his height and struck the top of one of the ship's masts, carrying it away, and damaging the tail and rudder of his aircraft. After jettisoning its petrol, the plane made a belly landing on the island. The crew were uninjured and were taken to Sharjah the same days by launch. The airplane was later declared as written off.
Source:
http://www.adias-uae.com/publications/hellyergarey04.pdf

Probable cause:

Poor judgement on part of the crew.