Northolt AFB

Learjet 25B EC-CKR arrived near Northolt following a flight from Palma de Mallorca. Due to the presence of priority traffic which was due to depart Northolt at that time, the flight was extended down wind to a distance of 10 nm before the crew received vectors and descent instructions for the final approach to runway 25. At 3.5nm short of the runway the pilot was asked to confirm that his landing gear was down and locked as is normal procedure at Northolt. After some rephrasing of this question, the landing gear was confirmed down, however during this exchange the aircraft was seen to deviate above the glidepath. At 2.5 nm, landing clearance was confirmed and the aircraft was advised of the surface wind and the fact that there was a 4 kt tailwind. The aircraft was also advised that it was above the glide path. At the decision altitude which was at approximately half a mile from the runway the aircraft was still above the glidepath although seen to be correcting to it. On arrival at the runway the aircraft was observed to land some distance beyond the normal touchdown point. Towards the end of the landing roll it veered to the right and then swerved to the left and overran the end of the runway. It collided with three lighting stanchions and continued in a south-westerly direction towards the airfield boundary which is marked by a high chain-link fence. After bursting through the boundary fence the aircraft ran onto the A40 trunk road and was almost immediately in collision with a Ford Transit van on the east bound carriageway, and seriously injuring its driver. The aircraft came to rest in the left hand lane of the road with the van embedded in the right side of the fuselage immediately forward of the right wing.

The aircraft was engaged in a special flight from Munich to RAF Northolt, near London, carrying British students who were flying back home for Christmas and a crew of seven. One minute after takeoff from Munich-Riem Airport, while climbing to an altitude of 1,000 meters, the crew informed ground about the failure of the left engine and obtained the permission to return for an emergency landing. Few seconds later, the copilot informed ground that he was unable to control the loss of altitude. In a limited visibility due to fog (800 meters horizontal and 40 meters vertical), the airplane struck the top of the St Paul church with its left wing and crashed in a huge explosion in the center of a commercial district of Munich. The airplane exploded while hitting a tramway, several cars and people and debris were scattered in the street and several shops as well. All 20 occupants on board the aircraft were killed as well as 33 people on the ground, essentially people sitting in the tramway. Nine other people were seriously injured.

The twin engine aircraft was engaged in a special flight from RAF Northolt to RAF Marham, carrying two cameraman from the BBC and two crew members. Shortly after takeoff from RAF Northolt, while climbing, the left engine failed. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane stalled and crashed on the roof of the Premier Foods egg packing building located in Victoria road in Ruislip, about 1,5 mile north of the airfield. Both passengers were unhurt while both pilots were seriously injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed long and the touchdown was reported 1,700 feet past the runway threshold. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest after it struck a wall. All three crew members were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

While taxiing, the engine number four failed to start due to a starter issue. The captain decided to increase speed, hoping to start the engine by windmilling the propeller. When the engine started, the pilot was unable to stop the aircraft in a timely manner. The airplane veered off taxiway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest against a small embankment. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Northolt to Berlin-Tempelhof and the approach was completed in low visibility due to foggy conditions. On final, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed on a railway road located few hundred yards from runway 09R threshold. Both pilots were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

While cruising at an altitude of 1,500 feet in low visibility due to the night and rain falls, the aircraft collided with a RAF Avro 683 Lancaster GR.3 registered TX270. En route from Luqa to Northolt, the Valetta was carrying 16 passengers and a crew of three. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Mediterranean sea about 46 km southwest of Agrigento. All 26 occupants in both aircraft were killed.

The crew started the approach to Belfast-Nutt's Corner by night and in marginal weather conditions. On final, the aircraft christened 'Lord Saint Vincent' was too low and hit the approach light number six (the top of which is 113 feet below the glide path) and appeared to level out. It touched down some 250 feet further on, ran along the ground for about 82 feet, rose again, struck the SBA van, came down again and struck the ILS building before breaking up about 200 yards short of runway 28 threshold. Eight occupants were injured while 27 others were killed, among them three crew members. The aircraft was destroyed.

While cruising in poor weather conditions and at an insufficient altitude, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain shrouded in clouds. The wreckage was found near Le Vigan, about 45 km north of Montpellier. All seven crew members were killed. It was determined that the aircraft was slightly off course at the time of the accident, maybe following a navigational error on part of the crew. The poor visibility caused by low clouds was considered as a contributory factor.

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.