Dublin

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Lockheed L-749 Constellation

Schedule:

Glasgow - Dublin

MSN:

13076

YOM:

1951

Flight number:

QT612

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Upon landing on runway 17 at Dublin Airport, the airplane seemed to be uncontrollable and bounced 3-4 times. The captain decided to abandon the landing, attempted a go around and increased engine power. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of approximately 50 feet, the airplane turned to the left when it stalled and crashed onto a hangar. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed. There were no injuries on the ground.

Probable cause:

The reason why the aircraft bounced on landing could not be determined with certainty. However, it was understood that the left engine partially lost power or failed during initial climb for unknown reason. This caused the aircraft to stall and to crash as the failure occurred at a critical stage of flight (low speed and low altitude).

Crash of a Lockheed L-749A-79 Constellation in Addis Ababa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1964

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

LX-IOK

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Addis Ababa City District

Schedule:

Dublin – Addis-Ababa

MSN:

2562

YOM:

1947

Location:

Addis Ababa-Bole

Country:

Ethiopia

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After touchdown at Addis-Ababa-Bole, following an uneventful cargo flight from Dublin, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. The captain was killed in the accident while six other crew members were injured. It is believed that control was lost while the pilot was attempting a go around manoeuvre for unknown reason. While increasing power on all four engines, they stopped simultaneously, causing the aircraft to crash.

Crash of a Douglas DC-4-1009 in Dublin

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1961 at 2104 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-4

Operator:

Registration:

G-ARJY

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tarbes – Dublin

MSN:

10288

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

6049

Captain / Total hours on type:

402.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

14000

Copilot / Total hours on type:

4200

Aircraft flight hours:

31458

Circumstances:

G-ARJY was flying a chartered non- scheduled trip from Speke Airport, Liverpool to Tarbes Airport, Lourdes where passengers were to embark for Dublin, Ireland, Following a normal flight to Lourdes the aircraft was refuelled. The amount taken on appeared to be sufficient for the flight to Dublin. The aircraft was carrying 4 crew and 69 passengers. Take- off for Dublin was at 1710 hours, and the flight to Dublin Approach was uneventful. At 2035 the aircraft reported to Dublin Air Traffic Control and was informed of the local weather and of the runway in use. Subsequently, at 2058, it was cleared to land on runway 24, and the captain stated that he intended to make a visual approach. Shortly thereafter, at 2104 the flight reported having difficulty and that it was losing power. The captain abandoned the approach, swung the aircraft abruptly to the left and made a successful emergency wheels-up landing away from the airport. There was no fire. Although some occupants were slightly injured and shocked, there were no fatalities or serious injuries.

Probable cause:

The accident was attributed to incorrect management of the fuel system by the flight crew which resulted in partial Loss of power and control and a forced landing outside the airport.

Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 802 Viscount in London

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1960

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viscount

Operator:

Registration:

G-AOHU

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Schedule:

Dublin – London

MSN:

169

YOM:

1957

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Upon landing, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane skidded for about 500 yards before coming to rest in flames. All 59 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Probable cause:

The failure of Air Traffic Control to notify the captain of a critical deterioration in runway Visual Range during his final approach. In consequence he attempted to land in a visibility which gave him insufficient visual reference with the result that the nosewheels contacted the runway before the mainwheels thereby overstressing the nose wheel unit and fracturing its attachments.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Simonburn

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Oldstead Airlines

Registration:

G-AFMF

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Newcastle – Dublin

MSN:

6432

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Ten minutes after his departure from Newcastle Airport, the pilot encountered severe icing conditions and the leading edge were contaminated with ice. At an altitude of 3,200 feet and while in a flat attitude, the twin engine aircraft hit the ground and crashed in fire. All eight occupants were seriously injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the pilot failed to prepare the flight according to procedures as he started the mission without any information about weather conditions along the route. Thus, he was unaware of the icing conditions. It was also reported that the aircraft was not equipped with deice/anti-ice systems, which was against the regulations and considered as a contributory factor.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas DC-3D in Spernall

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1953 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

EI-ACF

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Dublin – Birmingham

MSN:

42957

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

7303

Captain / Total hours on type:

3369.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3599

Copilot / Total hours on type:

2668

Aircraft flight hours:

10968

Circumstances:

Christened 'St Kieran', the aircraft left Dublin at 0936LT Bound for Birmingham, carrying 22 passengers and a crew of three. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, both engines lost power. The crew decided to make an emergency landing and the aircraft came to rest in a field located in Spernall. It was damaged beyond repair while all 25 occupants were evacuated safely, except for the copilot who was injured.

Probable cause:

The primary cause of the accident was loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. The Inquiry found that this was caused by selecting the port engine to the right main tank to which the starboard engine was also selected. The loss of engine power alone was the sole cause of the accident, which could have been avoided had the crew diagnosed the cause of the trouble and changed the fuel feed to another tank. The failure to diagnose fuel starvation was probably due to the circumstances: i.e. first, the lack of coordinated effort by the Captain and First Officer after the engines cut; second, the knowledge of the crew that ample fuel for the flight was on board and their belief that the engines were drawing from their respective main tanks. The actual forced landing of the aircraft in conditions of low cloud, poor forward visibility and unfavorable terrain was skilfully executed and resulted in the passengers escaping unharmed.

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota III in Dolwyddelan: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1952 at 1915 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

EI-AFL

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Northolt – Dublin

MSN:

16699/33447

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

At 1725LT, the aircraft christened 'Saint Kevin' took off from Northolt Airport en route for Dublin, carrying a crew of three and twenty passengers. The flight was without incident as far as Welshpool. The intended course from this point onwards until the coast was reached at a point near Harlech, lay over the Welsh mountains with heights rising to about 3,000 feet. At 1855LT the 'Saint Kevin', which throughout was flying under Instrument Flight Rules, asked and received permission from Preston Air Traffic Control to ascend from 4,500 feet which was the planned height of the flight, to 6,500 feet, being the next authorized level for westbound flights on this route. No reason was given for this request. At about 1912LT the aircraft reported its position to be over Nevin. At some time between 1912LT and 1915LT, the 'Saint Kevin', having changed to the Dublin frequency requested descent clearance. Dublin acknowledged this request and granted clearance which was not acknowledged. No further radio messages were received. At about 1915LT the aircraft crashed approximately 18 nautical miles from Nevin Beacon in a northerly direction, at a point about 4 nautical miles ESE from the summit of Snowdon. All 23 occupants lost their lives.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, investigators concluded that the combination of several factors contributed to the accident, such as weather conditions (clouds, icing, turbulences), pilot decision, evaluation of the situation in flight, flight conditions, etc. Please refer to the final report below.

Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 689 Tudor 5 in RAF Llandow: 80 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1950 at 1450 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 689 Tudor

Operator:

Fairflight

Registration:

G-AKBY

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Schedule:

Dublin – Llandow

MSN:

1417

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft was performing a charter flight from Dublin to RAF Llandow, carrying rugby fans who should attend a match between Ireland and Wales for the Five Nations Tournament. On final approach to RAF Llandow, at an altitude of 150 feet, the pilot increased power and the aircraft climbed to 300 feet and then adopted a 35° nose-up attitude. Out of control, it stalled and crashed in a field located 2,500 feet short of runway 28 threshold. All five crew members and 75 passengers were killed. Only three passengers were rescued, placing this tragedy as the most dramatic plane crash up to date.

Probable cause:

The loading conditions of the aircraft which gave a centre of gravity position too far aft and outside the limit in the relevant Certificate of Airworthiness and therefore insufficient elevator control under conditions of low speed and acute instability. Also, the pilot in command, aged 25, did not have sufficient experience, which was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide off Liverpool: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1948 at 1815 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Mannin Airways

Registration:

G-AKOF

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors: