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Crash of an Avro 688 Super Trader 4B on Mt Süphan Dağı: 12 killed

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1959 at 0946 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGRH
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
London – Ankara – Bahrain
MSN:
1256
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was performing a cargo flight from London to Bahrain with an intermediate stop at Ankara Airport, carrying a crew of 12 and various goods. At 0814LT, the airplane passed over Gemerek at an altitude of 11,500 feet then Elaziğ at 0859LT at 13,500 feet. The crew reported his position over Muş 27 minutes later and the contact was lost at 0946LT. SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was found six days later on the slope of the Mt Süphan Dağı (4,158 metres high) located to the north of the Van Lake. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 12 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The aircraft, flying on instruments, drifted north of its normal track because of strong winds and crashed into the mountain. Contributing factors were:
- The winds were stronger than forecast,
- An accurate bearing could not be obtained at Muş, and Van had not been checked,
- Sub-normal temperatures would result in a high indicated altimeter reading,
- Calculations on the flight and contacts with beacons were not coordinated and controlled.

Crash of an Avro 688 Super Trader 4B in Brindisi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1959 at 0609 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGRG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1255
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from England to Australia and made an intermediate stop at Brindisi Airport. The aircraft started the takeoff from runway 32 and swerved left off the runway after a 550 m ground run. Rough terrain caused the left landing gear leg to be torn off. The plane came to rest at 820 m past the runway threshold and burst into flames. Two crew members were killed while four others were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Strong crosswinds with gusts and the ground condition on the edge of the runway.

Crash of an Avro 689 Tudor 5 in RAF Bovingdon

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-AKCC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Castel Benito – Bovingdon
MSN:
1421
YOM:
1947
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to RAF Bovingdon, the crew was informed about the presence of a cloud base at 1,100 feet and decided to continue below this altitude for a visual approach. As the aircraft was not properly aligned with runway 22, the pilot-in-command attempted a go around. Few minutes later, while on a second attempt to land, the aircraft was again not properly aligned with runway 22 and eventually landed on its right side. The airplane rolled for several dozen yards before coming to rest in flames. While all seven occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot-in-command took the decision to continue the approach to runway 22 despite the fact that the aircraft was not properly aligned with runway 22 and failed to take the appropriate action which consisted to attempt a second go around.

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

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1950 at 1450 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AKBY
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dublin – Llandow
MSN:
1417
YOM:
1947
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
78
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
80
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 an Avro 688 Tudor 4B into the Sargasso Sea: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGRE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
London – Horta – Hamilton – Kingston
MSN:
1253
YOM:
1945
Flight number:
BSS401
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft christened 'Star Ariel' left Hamilton, Bermuda, at 0841LT bound for Kingston, Jamaica. About one hour into the flight, the crew informed ATC about his departure time and gave his ETA in Kingston at 1410LT. At this time, the aircraft was flying at an assigned altitude of 18,000 feet in good weather conditions. Another message was exchanged few minutes later. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Kingston, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended a week later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 20 occupants was found. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were good with no clouds above 10,000 feet, icing conditions at 14,000 feet and a 36 knots wind from the north with no turbulence.
Probable cause:
Through lack of evidence due to no wreckage having been found, the cause of the accident is unknown.

Crash of an Avro 689 Tudor I into the Atlantic Ocean: 31 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1948 at 0317 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHNP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
London – Lisbon – Horta – Hamilton – Havana
MSN:
1349
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
31
Aircraft flight hours:
575
Circumstances:
Christened 'Star Tiger', the four engine aircraft left Horta, in the Azores Islands, at 1534LT bound for Hamilton, Bermuda. At 0200LT, about 10,5 hours into the flight, the navigator Cyril Ellison fixed its position and learned that they too had been blown off course and were crabbing away from Bermuda. He informed the pilot McMillan about a new course which turned the aircraft directly into a gale. However, McMillan still expected to reach Bermuda with at least an hour's worth of fuel remaining upon landing. At 0304LT, the radio officer Robert Tuck requested a radio bearing from Bermuda, but the signal was not strong enough to obtain an accurate reading. He repeated the request eleven minutes later, and this time the Bermuda radio operator was able to obtain a bearing of 72 degrees, accurate to within 2 degrees. The Bermuda operator transmitted this information, and Tuck acknowledged receipt at 0317LT. This was the last radio contact with the aircraft and its crew. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Hamilton, SAR operations were conducted but were eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 31 occupants was found.
Probable cause:
In the complete absence of any reliable evidence as to either the nature or the cause of the disaster to 'Star Tiger' the Court has not been able to do more than suggest possibilities, none of which reaches the level even of probability. Into all activities which involve the cooperation of man and machine two elements enter of very diverse character. There is the incalculable element of the human equation dependent upon imperfectly known factors; and there is the mechanical element subject to quite different laws. A breakdown may occur in either separately or in both on conjunction. Or some external cause may overwhelm both man and machine. What happened in this case will never be known and the fate of 'Star Tiger' must forever remain an unsolved mystery.

Crash of an Avro 689 Tudor 2 in Woodford: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-AGSU
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Woodford - Woodford
MSN:
1235
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Woodford Airport, while climbing to a height of some 60-80 feet, the four engine aircraft banked right, stalled and crashed in a wooded area. Four occupants were killed while two others were rescued.
Crew:
Bill Thorn, pilot, †
David Wilson, copilot, †
John Webster, flight engineer and radio operator, †
Roy Chadwick, technician and designer, †
Eddie Talbot, flight engineer,
Stuart Davies, chief designer.
Probable cause:
Loss of control after takeoff caused by an incorrect assembly of the aileron control circuit on part of the Avro technicians.