Crash of a Vickers 610 Viking 1B near Glasgow

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1948 at 2001 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIVE
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Northolt – Glasgow
MSN:
218
YOM:
1946
Flight number:
BE200P
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left RAF Northolt at 1809LT bound for Glasgow-Renfrew Airport. At 1946LT, while cruising at an altitude of 4,700 feet, the captain contacted ATC to obtain the permission to descend to Renfrew. Few minutes later, he requested if the outer marker was operative. Shortly later, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Irish Law and crashed. All 20 occupants were quickly rescued, two of them were slightly injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Poor judgement on part of the captain who continued the approach at a too low altitude to maintain a safe distance with the ground. The failure to receive the outer marker beacon signal was considered as a contributory factor, as well as the low visibility caused by marginal weather conditions.

Crash of a Vickers 610 Viking 1B in Berlin: 14 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1948 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIVP
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
London – Berlin
MSN:
229
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
On final approach to Berlin-Gatow Airport, at an altitude of 1,500 feet, the twin engine aircraft collided with a Soviet Air Force Yakovlev Yak-3. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed. All 14 occupants on board the Viking were killed as well as the fighter pilot.
Crew:
John Ralph, pilot,
Norman Merrington, copilot,
Charles Mamser, radio operator,
Leonard G. Goodman, steward.
Passengers:
Sgt Pasquale E. Pintus,
Frances Ruth Clough,
J. K. Shea,
J. E. Roberts,
S. J. Stocking,
Robert Collier,
Waldemar Hald,
Cpt Flamings,
M. Lewin,
H. Read-Jahn.
Probable cause:
The collision was caused by the action of the Yak fighter, which was in disregard of the accepted rules of flying and, in particular, of the quadripartite flying rules to which Soviet authorities were parties.

Crash of a Vickers 604 Viking 1B in Mt Cardo: 19 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1948 at 0730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CEL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
New Delhi – Rome – London
MSN:
166
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
While flying at an altitude of 2,400 meters in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Cardo located in the center of Corsica. The wreckage was found few hours later and all 19 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Control flight into terrain.

Crash of a Vickers 632 Viking 1B in Mumbai

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VT-CLY
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Calcutta – Bombay
MSN:
205
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach, one of the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a field short of the runway threshold. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all 19 occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 610 Viking 1B in Northolt: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1948 at 2100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHPK
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Glasgow – Northolt
MSN:
148
YOM:
1947
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On approach to Northolt Airport, about seven km from the runway threshold, the captain decided to make a go around and informed ATC he was unable to distinguish the runway due to poor weather conditions. A second and a third attempt to land were aborted few minutes later. During the fourth attempt, the aircraft was too low and hit tree tops before crashing in a field located 4 km short of the runway threshold. 17 occupants were injured while a passenger was killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was due to the aircraft flying into trees in conditions of poor visibility while the pilot was attempting a visual or bad weather timed approach (or circuit) to the airport. The pilot committed an error of judgement in not asking for diversion to another airport after he had failed to land by the aid of the Beam. An incorrect altimeter setting cannot be dismissed as a possible contributory cause.

Crash of a Vickers 628 Viking 1B in Copenhagen

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1947 at 1900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OY-DLI
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris – Copenhagen
MSN:
197
YOM:
1947
Flight number:
DD1751
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport, the twin engine aircraft went unstable, rolled left and right, stalled and crashed in a flat position in the Øresund, about 500 meters short of runway threshold. While all 15 occupants were uninjured and quickly rescued, the aircraft christened 'Torulf Viking' was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 491 Viking 1B in Buenos Aires

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T-4
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
161
YOM:
1946
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Vickers 491 Viking C.1A in Aberdeen

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VL245
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
144
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, an engine failed. The captain decided to make an emergency landing and the aircraft crash landed in a field located 3 km from the airport. All 11 occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 620 Viking I in El Palomar AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
T-1
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
113
YOM:
1946
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from El Palomar AFB, while in initial climb, the crew informed ground about an engine failure and elected to return. As the captain realized it was impossible to reach his departure point, he attempted an emergency landing in a field when the aircraft hit the ground, overturned and crashed. All three crew members and two passengers were killed while 13 other occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 491 Viking 1A in Effingham

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1946 at 1715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGOK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wisley - Wisley
MSN:
1/101
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left Wisley Airfield at 1705LT on a local test flight on this first prototype, in accordance to the certification program. Five minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 1,000 feet, the crew willingly shut down the right engine. Four minutes later, the left engine encountered technical problems and failed. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing and the airplane crash landed in a field located in Effingham, about 2 miles southeast of the Wisley Airfield. While all four crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. This was the first mishap involving a Vickers Viking.
Probable cause:
The cause of the left engine failure was certainly due to the cutting off of the fuel supply.