Kinloss

The aircraft was one of three Nimrod reconnaissance variants and had just undergone a major servicing at the Nimrod Major Servicing Unit (NMSU), RAF Kinloss by RAF maintenance personnel. Nimrod XW666 departed on a routine post-servicing airtest. After approximately 35 minutes of flight, following a test of the aircraft's anti-icing system, the No 4 engine fire warning illuminated. Whilst the crew were carrying out the fire drill, the No 3 engine fire warning also illuminated. A rear crew member confirmed that the aircraft was on fire and advised the captain that panels were falling away from the starboard wing. After two explosions, the captain feared for the structural integrity of the aircraft and decided to ditch before he lost control authority. Without the aid of flaps, which failed to operate because of a fire/associated hydraulic failure, he completed a controlled ditching into the Moray Firth. The aircraft bounced twice onto the sea before settling. The fuselage broke into two and the aircraft subsequently sank. Parts were salvaged and the cockpit section is now on display at AeroVenture South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum in Doncaster.

The aircraft with the call sign 'Star trek 3' was one of three Hercules aircraft from 70th Squadron, RAF Lyneham, engaged in formation and low-level navigation training over Scotland. Having completed the formation element of the sortie, the three aircraft separated for individual exercises, which, for the crew of XV193, included a simulated drop of a small cargo pack onto a dummy drop zone in a valley, (Glen Tilt) eight miles north of Pitlochry. Having completed the simulated drop exercises and turned north to begin their egress from the drop zone, a rocky outcrop forced the crew to continue the left turn. After avoiding this obstacle, the crew elected to reverse their turn to enter the narrow valley of Glen Loch and regain the original route. In performing this
manoeuvre, at low-level and low-speed, the aircraft stalled and crashed crashed forcefully into the moorland in Glen Loch (East of Glen Tilt) near Loch Loch. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew (70th Squadron from RAF Lyneham):
S/L Graham Paul Young,
S/L Stanley Duncan Muir,
F/Lt Graham Robert John Southard,
F/Lt Stephen Paul McNally,
F/O Jonathan Huw Owen,
M/A Terence John William Gilmore,
Sgt Craig Thomas Hilliard,
Sgt Alan Keith King,
Lt/Cpl Gary Reginald Manning.

Just before 07:30 a crew took off in semi-darkness on the final sortie of their conversion from the Nimrod 1 to the Nimrod MR2 aircraft. Being the final sortie, the normal crew was increased to 20 by 5 checking crew and an additional Air Engineer. The surface wind was 070 degrees at 02 kts, with 8 km visibility in rain and a main cloud base of 3000 ft. Engine response and indications during the takeoff run were normal, but shortly after takeoff, at an estimated height of 20 ft, the aircraft flew through a dense flock of Canada Geese flying in arrowhead formation between overnight roosting and daily feeding grounds. It suffered numerous bird-strikes. Almost simultaneously the no.1 engine surged violently, suffering a catastrophic internal failure. The low pressure compressors on the nos 2 and 3 engines were also damaged and, although they continued to run, they produced little thrust. Effectively the fully laden aircraft was being powered by only the No 4 engine which itself may have been damaged. Some 27 seconds after takeoff the aircraft came down on the relatively soft tree-tops of a forest of young pine trees 1300 yards from the end of the runway and was quickly engulfed in flames.
Source: ASN

The aircraft was engaged in a three hour routine training flight out from RAF Kinloss. Shortly after takeoff, weather conditions deteriorated with low clouds, fog, turbulences and icing conditions. While cruising at low height, the airplane struck the top of a hill at Creag Bhan. The aircraft disintegrated and all 13 occupants were killed.
Crew:
S/Ldr Michael Charles McCallum, pilot,
F/O Terence Charles Swinney, copilot,
F/O David John Evans, copilot,
F/Lt Bruce George Wishart Mackie, navigator,
F/O Ralph Joseph Fonseca, navigator,
Sgt Malcolm Arthur Jones, air engineer,
F/O John Verner Young, air electronics officer,
F/Sgt David John Harris, air electronics operator,
Sgt Michael Barry Bowen, air electronics operator,
Sgt Charles Peter Matthews, air electronics operator,
Sgt Kenneth Browne Hurry, air signaller.
Passengers:
S/Ldr Harry Harvey, air electronics officer,
P/O Iain Campbell MacLean.

The aircraft departed RAF Newquay-St Mawgan on a training exercise over the Celtic Sea with the HMS Brighton's vessel, on behalf of the 201st Squadron based at RAF Kinloss. While simulating an aerial attack of the HMS Brighton and descending at low height, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that crashed into the Celtic Sea. Two crew members were quickly rescued while nine others were killed.
Crew:
Lt Cdr Christopher Brian Schofield, †
F/Lt Joseph Dennis Fillion, †
S/Ldr Brian Campbell Letechford, †
F/Lt Frank Raymond Hollins, †
F/Lt Edward Thomas Spicer, †
F/Lt Peter John Stowell, †
F/O Keith Robert Gordon, †
F/Sgt John Francis Gent, †
Sgt Arthur Brown, †
Sgt E. Bradshaw,
Sgt R. M. Collins.

The aircraft was engaged in a NATO exercise over the north of Europe. Shortly after midnight, the crew informed ground about his position. While cruising by night and limited visibility, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Prins Karls Forland at a speed of 320 km/h in a slight nose-up attitude, in the west part of Svalbard archipelago. The wreckage was spotted by the crew of a Norwegian Air Force HU-16 Albatross a day later about 500 feet below the summit. All 11 crew members were killed.

The crew was engaged in a local training mission out from RAF Kinloss on behalf of the 201st Squadron. While completing a last turn to join the approach path, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea some 8 miles offshore. The aircraft was destroyed and all seven crew members were killed.

Few minutes after takeoff from RAF Kinloss, en route to Belfast, the crew informed ATC that the engin number three oversped and caught fire. Shortly later, the engine detached and the crew was forced to shut down the engine number four. In such conditions, the crew decided to divert to Inverness Airport but out of control, the airplane lost height and crashed in a field located in Culloden Moor, about 4 miles southwest of the airport. People taking part to an open air party were able to evacuate all five crew members who were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
F/Lt J. Gladstone, pilot,
F/O Jim Lee, copilot,
John Mepham, flight engineer,
Jamie Hamilton,
John R. Hudson.

The crew was engaged in a night training mission at RAF Kinloss. After completing several manoeuvres in the area, the crew started a descent to the airbase when the instructor decided to abandon the approach and attempted a go around. Few minutes later, in limited visibility, the crew did not realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane struck trees and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located five miles east of the airfield. Four crew members were injured and three other were unhurt. Unfortunately, the captain and one student pilot were killed.
Source: http://tonycunnane.uk/page-261.html

The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Kinloss, consisting of touch and goes. On takeoff, the propellers failed to go into fine pitch. The captain aborted the takeoff procedure and started an emergency braking maneuver. Eventually, the captain selected the undercarriage up but only the nose wheel retracted. The twin engine aircraft overran and came to rest in a field. All eight crew members were uninjured while the airplane was considered as damaged beyond repair.