Llandow AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was flying back from Belfast-Aldergrove to RAF Llandow, carrying spare parts. En route, the weather conditions deteriorated with low clouds and fog. In such conditions, the crew lost his orientation and was unable to fix his position when the airplane hit the slope of Mt Snowdon. The wreckage was found few hours later and all three crew members have been killed.
Crew:
M/Plt Julian Maleńczuk,
F/Sgt J. Tracey,
F/Sgt W. Elliott.

Probable cause:

The departure from Belfast-Aldergrove was precipitated as the crew was instructed to fly back to Llandow as quick as possible. Thus, the crew failed to check the en route weather conditions prior to departure from Aldergrove and was not aware of the degradation.

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:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Dublin – Llandow

MSN:

1417

YOM:

1947

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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 Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Llandow: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1940 at 1110 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

R1156

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

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Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Chester - Llandow

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The pilot, sole on board, was completing a ferry flight from Chester to RAF Llandow. On final approach, the airplane struck a telephone pole and crashed in a nearby field located in Llysworney, less than two km north of the airfield. The pilot F/O Luis Goncelvis Fontes was killed.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Abersychan: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1940 at 1510 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8610

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Upwood - Llandow

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Upwood on a navigation exercice to RAF Llandow, Wales. While cruising north of Pontypool in low visibility due to poor weather conditions, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Garn Wern (425 metres high) located in Abersychan. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Hubert Henry Wilson, pilot,
P/O Anthony Drake Coplestone, observer,
Sgt John November, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.