Crash of a Vickers 610 Viking 1B in Manston

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHPL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Manston - Manston
MSN:
149
YOM:
1947
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a local training flight at Manston-Kent Airport. During the takeoff roll, the captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure for unknown reason. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the twin engine aircraft overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest on its belly. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The reason why the captain decided to interrupt the takeoff roll remains unknown.

Crash of a Vickers 635 Viking 1B in Calvi

Date & Time: Feb 8, 1965
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BJEQ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Calvi – Nice
MSN:
298
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, control was lost. The airplane veered off runway and came to rest. All 10 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
A landing gear collapsed during takeoff.

Crash of a Vickers 626 Viking C.2 in Mexico

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XB-FIP
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
179
YOM:
1946
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing somewhere in Mexico during the year 1964. The exact date remains unknown.

Crash of a Vickers 651 Valetta C.1 in London-Gatwick

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1963
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-APKR
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
London - London
MSN:
338
YOM:
1949
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After a flight of some two hours, made for the purpose of testing radio navigation equipment, the aircraft returned to London-Gatwick Airport, U.K.. Before, and during, the flight, undercarriage operation was normal, as was the functioning of the undercarriage light and horn warning system. During the approach, the undercarriage extended normally, and the green lights indicated that it was locked down. Some 50 yards after touch down, the aircraft began to sink on the starboard side and the captain noticed that the starboard green light was no longer showing. There were, however, no reds, and the horn was not sounding. The starboard main undercarriage leg eventually retracted and the aircraft swung off the runway to the right, on to the grass.

Crash of a Vickers 610 Viking 1B neara Py: 40 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1963 at 0030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-BJER
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
London-Gatwick – Perpignan
MSN:
216
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Captain / Total flying hours:
22800
Captain / Total hours on type:
4100.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
17500
Copilot / Total hours on type:
750
Aircraft flight hours:
20547
Circumstances:
The aircraft left London-Gatwick Airport at 2013LT on a charter flight to Perpignan with 36 passengers and a crew of four on board. At 2315LT, the crew was cleared to continue direct to Perpignan maintaining the altitude of 9,500 feet. At 0008LT, the crew was cleared by Marseille Control to descend to FL65 and then FL55 seven minutes later. While approaching Perpignan, the crew was informed about the poor weather conditions at destination with thunderstorm activity. At this time, the crew informed ground that the radiocompas settings were inexploitable due to the violent storm. While cruising in low visibility, the airplane struck trees and crashed on the Roc de Planes, in the massif of the Mottes-Rouges, near the village of Py. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 40 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found some 48 km southwest of Perpignan-Rivesaltes Airport at an altitude of 1,810 meters.
Crew:
Max-Marie Dunoyer de Lescheraine, pilot,
Léopold Marold, copilot,
Émile-Lucien Jamin, navigator,
Muriel Tiberghain, stewardess.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a navigation error on part of the flying crew, caused by several errors of judgement in flight. The crew failed to make precised reports between Limoges and Perpignan and failed to use properly the VOR of Toulouse and Istres. It was noted that the crew continued to the south at an altitude of 6,000 feet without knowing his real position. It is possible that fatigue may contribute to the accident.
Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 610 Viking 1B in Lyon

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1961 at 1645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-AJCE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Palma de Majorca – Lyon – London-Gatwick
MSN:
256
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
37
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was performing a charter flight from Palm de Majorca to London-Gatwick Airport with an intermediate stop at Lyon-Bron. Shortly after takeoff from Bron Airport, while climbing, both engines failed quite simultaneously. The pilot attempted an emergency landing and the aircraft crash landed in a field located near the airport. All 40 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The failure of the starboard engine was the consequence of the breaking of a seal in the hydraulic propeller pitch control system. The breakage caused periodic variation of the pitch and hence variations in the speed of the engine. The vibrations of the port engine according to the statement of the crew and experts, were undoubtedly due to an ignition defect. The ignition harness was found to be below requirements.

Crash of a Vickers 610 Viking 3B on Mt Holteheia: 39 killed

Date & Time: Aug 9, 1961 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHPM
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
London-Heathrow – Stavanger
MSN:
152
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
39
Captain / Total flying hours:
8000
Captain / Total hours on type:
3730.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
1744
Copilot / Total hours on type:
262
Aircraft flight hours:
20885
Circumstances:
The airplane was performing a charter flight from London-Heathrow to Stavanger, carrying 34 British students aged 13-16 and two teachers who were flying to Norway for a week study. While descending to Stavanger, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Holteheia located 54 km northeast of the destination. The airplane was totally destroyed and there were no survivors.
Crew:
Cpt Philip Guy Watts, pilot,
F/O Reginald Leonard Murray Smaley, copilot,
Miss Susan Elizabeth Endicott, stewardess.
Passengers:
John Beacham, teacher,
George William Budd, teacher,
John Adams,
Gregory Allen,
Michael Benson,
Peter Boyes,
John Bradbury,
Geoffrey Brown,
Reginald Chapple,
Trevor Condell,
Geoffrey Crouch,
Clifford Gaskin,
Edward Gilder,
Derek Goddard,
David Gore,
Geoffrey Green,
Quentin Green,
Anthony Harrison,
David Hatchard,
David Hendley,
Peter Huggins,
Richard Lawrence,
Alan Lee,
Robert Martin,
Brian Robert Mitchell,
Edwin Murray,
John Phelps,
Edward Prosper,
Robert Roffey,
Lawrence Sims,
Colin Smith,
Peter Stacey,
Roger Taylor,
John Wells,
Martin White,
Roger White.
Probable cause:
For reasons unknown, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path.
Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 610 Viking 1B in Düsseldorf

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-BALI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
222
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the airplane was caught by strong crosswinds, veered off runway and struck with its left wing the ILS system located in a small building. All nine occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Caught by strong crosswinds during takeoff.

Crash of a Vickers 634 Viking 1B off Heraklion: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AMNK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Birmingham – Nice – Brindisi – Heraklion – Cairo – Jedda – Aden
MSN:
210
YOM:
1947
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Birmingham to Aden with intermediate stops at Nice, Brindisi, Heraklion, Cairo and Jedda. The departure from Heraklion Airport was completed by night from runway 27. Following a takeoff roll of 1,800 meters, the twin engine aircraft lifted off and continued the initial climb to a height of 100 feet when the crew encountered technical problems with the engines. The airplane bank left and crashed into the sea, killing all three crew members.
Probable cause:
The cause of the engine failure was not established but the most likely reason appears to be a defective fuel or ignition system. The reason why it was not possible for the aircraft to maintain safe flight after the failure of the engine remains unknown.