Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at RAF Oakington: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WJ914
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wyton - Oakington
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The Viking was performing a flight from RAF Wyton with five crew members and a high ranking officer on board. On approach to RAF Oakington, at an altitude of 1,500 feet, the airplane collided with a RAF De Havilland DH.100 Vampire T.11 registered XD549 that just took off from RAF Oakington for a local training mission with two pilots on board. After the collision, both aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located 4 miles southwest of the airbase. All eight occupants in both aircraft were killed. It is believed that both crew were responsible as they failed to pay sufficient attention to potential traffic.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 near RAF Tangmere: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF381
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down
MSN:
540
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a test flight for an asymmetric safety speed assessment out from RAF Boscombe Down. At an altitude of 10,000 feet, the crew lost control of the airplane after applying full power on one engine in takeoff configuration. The aircraft stalled, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at Manston: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WL633
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island – Manston
YOM:
1953
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from RAF Thorney Island, the crew completed a normal approach to Manston Airport. After touchdown, the airplane deviated from the centerline of the runway to the left. The pilot-in-command elected to correct the deviation but after a run of about 250 meters, the airplane hit a snow wall, ground looped for about 130° and came to rest in flames 30 meters farther with its left wing sheared off. Two cadets were uninjured while three other crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the loss of control upon landing was not determined with certainty.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.3 at Saint Peter

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WJ470
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
595
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew completed the landing in strong crosswinds. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control and veered off runway. It lost its undercarriage and came to rest, broken in two. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 in Falstone: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WL640
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
YOM:
1953
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight out from RAF Thorney Island. While cruising at an altitude of 13,000 feet, the aircraft went out of control, entered a spin and dove into the ground. At an altitude of 1,500 feet, the airplane disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in a field located in Falstone. All five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
A Board of Inquiry into the accident was held but was unable to determine the cause of the accident. Only those on board knew what had really occurred but our records indicate that the Board, whilst unable to say for certain what had happened, concluded that the mostly likely reason that the aircraft broke up was that it had been overstressed but there was no evidence to say why this had occurred and the Board could only conjecture.

Crash of a Vickers 668 Varsity T.1 at RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF388
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
MSN:
547
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the last segment, the crew did not realize his altitude was too low. The aircraft hit the ground few yards short of runway. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was irreparable.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 near RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WJ904
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
MSN:
625
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission out from RAF Thorney Island. In flight, the crew decided to shut down an engine to simulate an engine failure. Shortly later, the second engine stopped. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the crew decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew mistakenly shut down the wrong engine in flight, causing the aircraft to lose speed and height. In such conditions, an emergency landing was necessary.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 in Vicq: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1955 at 0015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF426
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
569
YOM:
1952
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Parked at RAF Thorney Island, West Sussex, the aircraft was stolen by Manik Agnani, a 22 years old mechanic from the RAF who did not held any pilot licence. Hew flew over the London area for more than three hours and then changed his route and flew to the south, over The Channel and then to France. Shortly past midnight, he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in flames onto a house located in Vicq, about 9 km northeast of Valenciennes. The pilot was killed and four people in the house as well, two old people and two young girls aged 9 and 10.

Crash of a Vickers 668 Varsity T.1 in Colyton

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WJ888
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
615
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine caught fire in flight when the second engine lost power shortly later. The crew decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located in Colyton and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine fire and loss of power in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 near Fenton

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF384
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
543
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While completing a training sortie, the crew encountered a double engine failure and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a field located near Fenton and came to rest in a river. While both crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure in flight.