Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 31A in Bronson Creek

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1997 at 1710 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FTPA
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wrangell - Bronson Creek
MSN:
13157
YOM:
1953
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon touchdown at Bronson Creek Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The right wing struck the runway surface and out of control, the aircraft veered off runway and came to rest in a grassy area. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the bolts attaching the right horizontal gear support to the main wheel failed upon landing.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter Mk 31M in Enstone

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1996 at 1135 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
C-FDFC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Enstone - Bristol
MSN:
13218
YOM:
1954
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
11000
Captain / Total hours on type:
1300.00
Copilot / Total hours on type:
60
Circumstances:
The weather at the departure airfield consisted of a light and variable wind, good visibility and a temperature of 20ºC. At the start of the take-off run the aircraft, which was being flown by the copilot, who is also an experienced pilot with some 60 hours on type, began to swing to the right. Corrective action caused it to swing to the left but, after further correction,the aircraft continued accelerating and swing to the right. The Bristol Freighter is well known for its tendency to swing on takeoff. The commander joined the co-pilot on the controls and attempted to assist in correcting the right-hand swing. It became apparent to the pilots that they would be unable to prevent the aircraft running over the edge of the runway and, as there were people standing by the edge and a small control tower building behind them, they applied full up-elevator in an effort to avoid a collision. Because of the low airspeed at which this occurred, the aircraft stalled and the left wing tip hit the ground. This caused the aircraft to turn so that it was then travelling sideways which resulted in the landing gear collapsing as it touched the runway. The aircraft then slid off the runway onto the grass. There was no fire and the only injuries were sustained by three of the aircraft passengers.
Final Report:

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 31M in Bronson Creek

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1988 at 0832 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-GYQY
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wrangell - Bronson Creek
MSN:
13134
YOM:
1953
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 31E in Blenheim

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1981
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ZK-CAM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13155
YOM:
1953
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing at Blenheim-Woodbourne Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane slid for few dozen yards before coming to rest. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Fatigue crack in landing gear centre fitting.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 31M in Hay River: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1977
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C-FWAD
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13253
YOM:
1956
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Hay River, while climbing to a height of 200 feet, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed near the airport. A pilot was killed while the second occupant was seriously injured.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew lost control of the airplane after the cargo shifted during initial climb. It is believed that the cargo was not properly stowed.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 21E off Cape Paterson: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1975 at 0218 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-SJQ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Melbourne - Launceston
MSN:
12807
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
18821
Captain / Total hours on type:
264.00
Aircraft flight hours:
9526
Circumstances:
The flight departed from Essendon Airport at 0050LT. At 0122 hours the flight reported to the Melbourne Flight Service Unit (FSU) that it was then at the Westgate reporting point cruising at 3,500 feet, and its estimated time of arrival at the West Bass reporting point was 0159 hours. At 0145:44 hours VH-SJQ advised the Melbourne FSU 'we have an engine failure on the port side, we have it feathered and are returning to Melbourne'. In response to a request from the FSU the flight advised it was able to maintain height 'at the moment'. At 0148:54 VH-SJQ confirmed that 'the port engine has failed and is feathered' and shortly thereafter advised an estimated time of arrival at the Primegate reporting point en route to Essendon Airport. The Uncertainty Phase of the search and rescue procedures was declared by the Melbourne Air Traffic Control Unit (ATC). At 0151:58 hours the flight advised the Melbourne FSU 'we are making a slow descent to one five zero zero' and, in answer to a query, reported 'we're unable to maintain our height with our rated power'. The Alert Phase of the search and rescue procedures was declared by Melbourne ATC, and a Bristol 170 Mark 31 aircraft en route from Launceston to Essendon Airport was diverted to intercept VH-SJQ and act as an escort. At 0157:46 hours VH-SJQ reported 'four eight DME Wonthaggi', and shortly thereafter, reported 'tracking one eight three on the Wonthaggi VOR'. At 0203:00 hours VH-SJQ transmitted a distress call and reported 'we're passed fifteen hundred feet and still going down'. The position of the aircraft at 0203:57 hours was reported as 'on the one eight six radial Wonthaggi and we are three seven DME'. The Distress phase of the search and rescue procedures was declared by Melbourne ATC and a second northbound aircraft was diverted to intercept VH-SJQ. At 0204:32 hours VH-SJQ reported 'we're down to nine hundred feet at the moment'; at 0207:42 hours, 'at six hundred feet at the moment; at 0212:55 hours, 'two two DME'; at 0213:22 hours, altitude was 200 feet; 0214:31 hours, 'we're down to one hundred feet'; and, at 0215:23 hours, 'this is a final MAYDAY call, we are approximately one eight DME and our altimeters registering zero feet'. Melbourne FSU then transmitted a ditching report of moderate seas with a moderate south-westerly swell; this was acknowledged by VH-SJQ. The escort aircraft then heard further transmissions from VH-SJQ which indicated that both altimeters were reading zero; the crew could see the tops of waves; and DME distances of 16, 15 and 14 were transmitted, the latter being the last transmission heard from the aircraft the time being about 0218 hours. Neither of the escort aircraft sighted VH-SJQ. Post analysis of the meteorological information indicates that the weather in the area of the accident was: surface wind from 280 degrees (True) at 15 knots, scattered cumulus cloud base 2,500 feet, scattered stratus cloud base 1,200 feet, patches of sea fog, visibility 40 kilometres reducing to 4,000 metres in rain showers, temperature 12° Celsius. It is probable that the temperatures at 1,500 feet, 2,500 feet, and 3,500 feet were 9.5°, 7° and 5° Celsius respectively. The conditions were not conducive to the formation of airframe or carburettor icing, and search aircraft in the area did not encounter any such icing.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidences, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident. Analysis of the information available indicates that the flight profile flown by VH-SJQ is compatible with the aircraft having been flown at an indicated airspeed of 95 knots, and a power output from the starboard engine of 1250 BHP, i.e. 26 per cent less than the normal maximum power available in the conditions which prevailed. The pilot did not indicate in detail the nature of the difficulties he was experiencing, and as the majority of the aircraft wreckage has not been found it has not been possible to determine why he shut down the port engine; whether or not there was a degradation in the power output of the starboard engine; or whether there was some other factor which might have affected the performance of the aircraft. It might be significant, however, that at 0208:33 hours when a crew inter-communication was inadvertently transmitted from VH-SJQ, it was stated 'cylinder head is about three forty, oil pressure is around about eighty, oil temperature is about ah sixty five'. Such an oil pressure and temperature is normal, but the reported cylinder head temperature is 30 degrees Celsius in excess of the permissible emergency maximum.
Final Report:

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 31E in Rankin Inlet: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1974
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-QWJ
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Thompson - Rankin Inlet
MSN:
13078
YOM:
1951
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Rankin Inlet, while completing a cargo flight from Thompson, the airplane went out of control and crashed. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on final caused by an engine failure.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 31M off Lutselk'e

Date & Time: May 3, 1970
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-WAG
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13249
YOM:
1955
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Lutselk'e Airport, the airplane crashed into an icy lake. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 31M in Iraq

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1967
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
369
Flight Type:
MSN:
13215
YOM:
1954
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing somewhere in Iraq. Crew fate remains unknown as well as the exact date of the mishap, somewhere during 1967.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 31E in Dublin: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1967 at 1758 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EI-APM
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Glasgow - Dublin
MSN:
13076
YOM:
1951
Flight number:
QT612
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Upon landing on runway 17 at Dublin Airport, the airplane seemed to be uncontrollable and bounced 3-4 times. The captain decided to abandon the landing, attempted a go around and increased engine power. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of approximately 50 feet, the airplane turned to the left when it stalled and crashed onto a hangar. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed. There were no injuries on the ground.
Probable cause:
The reason why the aircraft bounced on landing could not be determined with certainty. However, it was understood that the left engine partially lost power or failed during initial climb for unknown reason. This caused the aircraft to stall and to crash as the failure occurred at a critical stage of flight (low speed and low altitude).