Vickers Varsity

Operator:

Registration:

WF428

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

MSN:

570

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training at RAF Thorney Island. During the descent, the instructor voluntarily shot down an engine when on final, the remaining engine lost power. The aircraft lost speed, stalled and crashed short of runway. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine loss of power on final.

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

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

WF386

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Swinderby - Swinderby

MSN:

545

YOM:

1951

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a night training sortie at RAF Swinderby. On final approach, due to low visibility, the pilot-in-command failed to locate the runway properly and decided to make a go around. The aircraft was seen to fly over the runway at low height when at the end, it struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. The captain was killed and the copilot was seriously injured.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 near RAF Syerston: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

WF327

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Swinderby - Swinderby

MSN:

519

YOM:

1951

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew left RAF Swinderby for a local training mission. Enroute, weather conditions worsened and the crew was instructed to divert to RAF Syerston. Few minutes later, the pilot encountered technical problems with the left engine that was shot down and its propeller feathered. On final approach to RAF Syerston, the pilot was forced to make a go around for unknown reason. During its second attempt to land, the aircraft was seen to fly over the airbase at low height with its landing gear down. Suddenly, it bank left and crashed in a field located two miles from the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Crew (201st Advanced Flying School):
Sgt G. E. Cheesley, pilot,
Sgt P. C. Leach, pilot,
P/O M. W. Clarke, navigator,
Sgt L. J. Herbert, signaller.

Probable cause:

Weather conditions were poor at the time of the accident and the visibility was considered as below minima for such type of flight. It was determined that the pilot was familiarized with Vickers Wellington and that in the past, he regularly encountered difficulties for maintaining control with one engine out.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at RAF Hullavington: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

WF391

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Hullavington - Hullavington

MSN:

550

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Hullavington. During a Blind Approach Beam System (BABS) approach by night and marginal weather conditions, the pilot-in-command encountered difficulties to locate the runway and decided to make a go around. While climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed three miles from the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The crew was unable to locate the runway due to the combination of a reduced visibility due to the night and poor weather conditions and the failure of the instruments to locate the approach beacons. During the initial climb, the aircraft stalled due to an insufficient speed.

Crash of a Vickers Varsity T.1 in Nicosia

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

WJ938

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Nicosia

Country:

Cyprus

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While taxiing for takeoff, the nose wheel steering system failed. The pilot informed ATC and continued to taxi using other braking systems and attempted a double bend when the brakes failed. The aircraft veered off the taxiway and collided with parked fuel tanks. There were no casualties while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 in RAF Swinderby: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

WF332

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Swinderby - Swinderby

MSN:

524

YOM:

1951

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a night training sortie, consisting of landings and approaches maneuvers. While descending to the airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located three miles southwest of the airfield. Both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the crew misjudged the distance with the ground and failed to check the approach speed and the angle of descent. However, the assumption that the loss of control was the consequence of an avoiding action on part of the pilot-in-command to avoid a collision with another aircraft in the downwind circuit is not ruled out.

Crash of a Vickers Varsity T.1 in RAF Swinderby

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

WF420

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

700

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to RAF Swinderby was completed in misty conditions. The airplane was too high and passed over the outer marker at an altitude of 750 feet instead of the assigned 600 feet. The pilot increased the rate of descent but could not timely arrest the descent. He advanced the power levers in an attempt to make a go around when the airplane impacted the ground short of the runway threshold. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot-in-command.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 in RAF Wigsley

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

WF324

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Wigsley - Wigsley

MSN:

516

YOM:

1951

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach, during the last segment, the copilot-in-command made a wrong maneuver, causing the airplane to descend rapidly. The aircraft hit violently the runway surface, causing the left main gear to collapse and the left wing to partially brake off. The airplane went out of control and came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured.

Probable cause:

Wrong maneuver on part of the pilot-in-command.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 in RAF Swinderby: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

WF373

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: