Country
code
Suffolk
Crash of a Cessna T303 Crusader off Aldeburgh
Date & Time:
Sep 19, 2006 at 1328 LT
Operator:
Registration:
D-IAFC
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Braunschweig – Oxford
MSN:
303-00244
YOM:
1983
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
6000.00
Circumstances:
Whilst on a cargo flight from Braunschweig, Germany, to Oxford, England, when approximately 30 nm from the English coast, the right engine started to run roughly. On checking the fuel gauges, the pilot observed that they were indicating in the ‘red sector’. The right engine subsequently stopped, shortly followed by the left engine. The aircraft then glided from FL100 towards the Suffolk coast and ditched in the sea approximately 9.5 nm southeast of Aldeburgh. The pilot was able to abandon the aircraft, which sank quickly. He was rescued from the sea some 18 minutes later by a Royal Air Force Search and Rescue helicopter and taken to hospital, where he was found to have suffered a fractured a vertebra. The investigation determined that the aircraft had run out of fuel, due to insufficient fuel for the intended journey being on-board the aircraft at the start of the flight.
Probable cause:
The accident occurred as a result of the aircraft running out of fuel approximately 160 nm short of its destination. Although the wreckage of the aircraft was not recovered, all the evidence suggests that this occurred due to insufficient fuel being on-board the aircraft prior to departure, rather than because of a technical problem. The pilot’s lack of awareness of the fuel quantity and the actual weight of the cargo on board D-IAFC prior to takeoff, are considered to have been significant causal factors in the accident. A contributory factor was that the pilot did not monitor the reportedly ‘unreliable’ fuel gauges, thus missing a chance to notice the aircraft’s low fuel state and divert to a suitable airfield before the situation became critical.
Final Report:
Crash of a Piper PA-31-325 Navajo C/R in Earl Stonham: 1 killed
Date & Time:
Aug 20, 1980 at 1730 LT
Operator:
Registration:
G-LCCO
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stapleford - Hethel
MSN:
31-7812082
YOM:
1978
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total hours on type:
230.00
Aircraft flight hours:
497
Circumstances:
The aircraft was returning from Stapleford Tawney aerodrome, where it had just been serviced, to its base at Hethel aerodrome, near Norwich. When under the surveillance of Honington Radar, the pilot requested and was granted permission to manoeuvre between flight level (FL)75 and FL60. A few minutes later the aircraft was observed on radar to be flying in a south-easterly direction and shortly thereafter to disappear from the radar picture. At about this time the aircraft was heard to be in a high speed descent and was seen to break up at about 2,500 feet. The main portion of the wreckage burst into flames shortly after impact and the pilot, who was the only occupant, was killed.
Probable cause:
It is concluded that the accident was caused by the pilot attempting to recover from a dive whilst flying at a speed considerably in excess of the aircraft's permitted maximum. The excessive speed resulted from his loss of control of the aircraft, most probably following an attempt to perform a prohibited aerobatic manoeuvre.
Final Report:
Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at RAF Stradishall
Date & Time:
Jun 10, 1968
Operator:
Registration:
WL677
Survivors:
Yes
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the airplane landed hard, causing the undercarriage to be torn off. The airplane then slid for several yards and came to rest. There were no casualties.
Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DL at RAF Bentwaters
Date & Time:
Mar 4, 1963
Operator:
Registration:
43-30655
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bentwaters - Bentwaters
MSN:
13806
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew (three engineers) were engaged in a series of ground tests. While rolling at high speed on a taxiway, control was lost. The airplane veered off taxiway to the left and eventually collided with trees. The airplane was damaged beyond repair while all three occupants were uninjured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew failed to prepare the mission properly and forgot to remove the rudder lock prior to start the tests manoeuvres.
Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.19 at RAF Mildenhall
Date & Time:
Nov 21, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
VM372
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mildenhall - Mildenhall
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at RAF Mildenhall when an engine failed in flight. The airplane lost height, struck trees, a pole and the roof of a house before crashing in a field located one mile southwest of the airbase. Both crew members were rescued and the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
Crash of a Boeing B-50D-110-BO Superfortress in RAF Lakenheath: 11 killed
Date & Time:
Jun 24, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
49-0271
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lakenheath - Lakenheath
MSN:
16047
YOM:
1949
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a combined exercice out from RAF Lakenheath with ten other USAF B-50's. During the approach, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion few miles from the airfield, killing all 11 crew members, among them Albin F. Venskus, pilot.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the stall could be caused by a maneuver on part of the pilot-in-command to avoid a collision with another aircraft in the formation was not ruled out.
Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland MR.5 off Felixstowe
Date & Time:
Mar 14, 1952
Operator:
Registration:
PP162
Survivors:
Yes
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a specific mission consisting of a test of the seaplane in rough seas conditions. Upon landing off Felixstowe, the airplane was hit by strong waves and was considered as damaged beyond repair. The crew was unhurt.
