Crash of a Vickers 668 Varsity T.1 in Marchington: 11 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1984 at 1008 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-BDFT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
East Midlands - Liverpool
MSN:
620
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Captain / Total flying hours:
7760
Captain / Total hours on type:
63.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
793
Copilot / Total hours on type:
21
Aircraft flight hours:
6682
Circumstances:
The Varsity aircraft was a twin engined training aircraft used by the Royal Air Force until 1974 when it was sold into private ownership. It was currently owned and operated by an aircraft preservation group who maintained the aircraft to its service specification. For this reason it carried the military designation "WJ897" on the fuselage and wings although it was registered as G-BDFT. The aircraft had been granted a Permit to Fly and was restricted to display and demonstration flying and the practising for such displays. Thirteen members of the society had boarded the aircraft earlier that morning at RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshire, where the aircraft was hangared, for the short flight to East Midlands Airport (EMA). This flight was uneventful and, after landing, the aircraft was refuelled with 436 imperial gallons of aviation gasoline (Avgas 100 LL) increasing the total fuel on board to 510 imp gals. It was intended to fly to Liverpool Airport (LPL) to take part in an air display that afternoon. It was arranged that aerial photographs of the Varsity would be taken during the flight to Liverpool using a Cessna 180. This aircraft was to rendezvous with the Varsity at 3000 feet amsl in the area of Blithfield Reservoir some 20 miles to the west of East Midlands Airport. The Varsity engines were normally started using a ground electrical supply. On this occasion, the left engine was reluctant to start and after it initially fired, it faltered and stopped, emitting smoke from the exhaust. For fear of exhausting the batteries with repeated attempts to start, the right engine was started first. The left engine was then motored over before another start attempt was made, this time successfully. The passengers on the Varsity were told that the left engine had been over primed on the first attempt to start. The Varsity took off at 09:32 and the approach controller at East Midlands Airport provided bearing and range information to the Varsity pilot to help him locate the Cessna 180 and, at 09:47 hrs, both aircraft changed to a discrete radio frequency. The Varsity was then flown in formation on the right hand side of the Cessna in a series of wide orbits of the Blithfield Reservoir. During this time, the left engine of the Varsity was seen to emit occasional puffs of smoke accompanied by loud bangs. When the photographer requested that the Varsity climb slightly above the Cessna and lower its undercarriage, the Varsity pilot reported that he was having trouble with the right engine. The Cessna pilot replied that it looked to him as if the problem was in fact with the left engine, as he could see puffs of smoke as if the engine were running too rich. When the Varsity pilot replied that it might be engine icing, the Cessna pilot noted that his intake temperature was indicating in the range where there was no risk of intake icing on his engine. The undercarriage of the Varsity was lowered briefly before being retracted again with the pilot's comment that he "could not accept the drag and might have to abort the photography". Towards the end of the photographic flying, the right engine started to backfire as well. At 10:05, the Varsity pilot called East Midlands Airport on the approach frequency requesting a direct return to the airport because he had some engine problems and might have to declare an emergency. In reply the approach controller passed the Varsity a course to steer to East Midlands and asked whether the Varsity could maintain height. The pilot answered that "at the present we are able to but it's with some difficulty". The Varsity steadily losing height and, at 10:07, the pilot informed the controller that the left engine of the Varsity had stopped. Thirty seconds later the Varsity co-pilot radioed "we're going to have to put it down in the nearest field, we're down to 400 feet and losing power on both engines so we are going into the...". The undercarriage of the Varsity was lowered and, at a very low height, the left wing was then seen to drop and the aircraft rolled over, the nose dropped and it crashed inverted. Just before impact the left mainplane severed 11,000 volt electricity supply wires. As the aircraft broke-up on impact, the rear part of the fuselage together with the empennage fell into a drainage ditch some 10 feet deep. The three survivors were seated in rearward facing seats in this part of the fuselage. Two were able to escape from the fuselage but the third was hampered by a broken leg and received severe burns when a wire fence prevented him from leaving the accident area.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a loss of control when the aircraft stalled at low altitude while the pilot was attempting a forced landing following a progressive loss of power on both engines. The loss of power on the left engine resulted from an excessive rich fuel/air mixture caused by a split diaphragm within the engine driven fuel pump. It was not possible to determine the cause of the loss of power on the right engine but it possibly resulted from ignition failure due to ignition coil breakdown at high engine boost settings.
Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity I in El Paso

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1983 at 1415 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N65338
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
El Paso - El Paso
YOM:
1953
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
1425
Captain / Total hours on type:
5.00
Aircraft flight hours:
7371
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a flight from the El Paso Intl Airport to the West Texas Airport. A hard landing was made causing all three landing gear to collapse, folded the left wing aft just inboard of the engine and twisted the entire right wing about 30° leading edge down. According to the pilot the aircraft was flown with 30° of flaps on downwind and 47° of flaps on base. He also reported that both airspeed indicators were stuck at 110 knots. According to photographs taken by an unidentified party, the flaps were in the up position in the pattern and during touchdown. Touchdown was made with the right main gear off the right side of the rwy. The aircraft wheel track is only 4 feet less than the width of the runway. The pilot did not have a type rating nor authorization in lieu of a type rating for the 15 minutes ferry flight. The pilot had 4,140 hours copilot time in the aircraft, during which he had never landed the aircraft.
Probable cause:
Occurrence #1: hard landing
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
1. (c) judgment - poor - pilot in command
2. (c) overconfidence in personal ability - pilot in command
3. (f) flight/nav instruments,airspeed indicator - inoperative
4. (c) level off - misjudged - pilot in command
5. (c) inadequate initial training - pilot in command
6. (c) lack of total experience in type of aircraft - pilot in command
7. (c) unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected - pilot in command
8. (c) proper alignment - not attained - pilot in command
----------
Occurrence #2: complete gear collapsed
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
9. Landing gear,main gear - overload
10. Landing gear,nose gear - overload
----------
Occurrence #3: airframe/component/system failure/malfunction
Phase of operation: landing - flare/touchdown
Findings
11. Wing - overload
Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at RAF Little Rissington

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1973
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF411
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Little Rissington - Little Rissington
MSN:
557
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Little Rissington on behalf of the Central Flying School. After touchdown, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at RAF Oakington

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1969
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WJ895
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oakington - Oakington
MSN:
619
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While completing training manoeuvres in the vicinity of RAF Oakington, the twin engine airplane collided with a private Cessna 150 registered G-ATKF. The pilot of the Cessna was able to perform an emergency landing as well as the crew of the Varsity who landed at RAF Oakington. Nevertheless, the aircraft was later considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at RAF Stradishall

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1968
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WL677
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
YOM:
1953
Region:
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 Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 in Immingham: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1966
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF334
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lindholme - Lindholme
MSN:
526
YOM:
1951
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Lindholme on a training mission. While in cruising altitude, the airplane collided with a private Cessna 337 registered G-ATJO. The Cessna went out of control and crashed in a field, killing its pilot, sole on board. Following the collision, three cadets on board the Varsity bailed out and the captain attempted an emergency landing in a field. Six crew members were found alive while one of the cadet who bailed was killed as his parachute was not properly fastened. The aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at RAF Manby

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1965 at 1953 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WL680
Flight Type:
Schedule:
Manby - Manby
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training at RAF Manby, Lincolnshire. On final approach with an engine voluntarily inoperative, the crew decided to make a go around when the airplane stalled and crashed in a field located 2,2 km east of Louth, short of the airbase. All three crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the remaining engine lost power when the crew elected to make a go around with one engine already inoperative. In such conditions, the airplane stalled and crashed.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at RAF Topcliffe: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF329
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
MSN:
521
YOM:
1951
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Topcliffe. Following several manoeuvres performed uneventfully, the crew was approaching the airbase with an engine voluntarily off to simulate an engine failure. On short final by night, the airplane stalled and crashed in a field short of runway threshold. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 in Gloucester: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-APAZ
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Gloucester - Gloucester
MSN:
561
YOM:
1957
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight. Shortly after takeoff from runway 22 at Gloucester-Staverton Airport, while climbing to a height of 600-700 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed on the roof of a house located on Tuffley Avenue. Both pilots were killed while three people leaving in the house were uninjured. The aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Selection of the starboard engine 'idle-cut-off' switch to CUT-OFF instead of the port to the RUN position, when attempting to re-start the port engine, resulted in a complete loss of power at a low height and the aircraft struck a house in the ensuing crash-landing.