Zone

Crash of a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo in Caernarfon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 6, 2017 at 1723 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
N250AC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
31-7612040
YOM:
1976
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
4000
Aircraft flight hours:
9243
Circumstances:
Approximately 20 minutes after takeoff from a private airstrip in Cheshire the pilot reported pitch control problems and stated his intention to divert to Caernarfon Airport. Approximately 5 minutes later, the aircraft struck Runway 25 at Caernarfon Airport, with landing gear and flaps retracted, at high speed, and with no noticeable flare manoeuvre. The aircraft was destroyed. The elevator trim was found in a significantly nose-down position, and whilst the reason for this could not be determined, it is likely it would have caused the pilot considerable difficulty in maintaining control of the aircraft. The extensive fire damage to the wreckage and the limited recorded information made it difficult to determine the cause of this accident with a high level of confidence. A possible scenario is a trim runaway, and both the CAA and the EASA are taking safety action to promote awareness for trim runaways as a result of this accident.
Probable cause:
After reporting pitch control problems, N250AC made a direct diversion with a significantly unstable approach, in a clean configuration, to Runway 25 at Caernarfon Airport. The elevator trim was found in a nose-down position and, whilst the reason for this could not be determined, it is likely that it caused the pilot considerable difficulty in controlling the aircraft. The aircraft struck Runway 25 at Caernarfon Airport, with landing gear and flaps retracted, at high speed, and with no noticeable flare manoeuvre. The extensive fire damage to the wreckage and the limited recorded information made it difficult to determine the cause of this accident with a high level of confidence. It is possible there was a nose-down trim runaway that the pilot was unable to stop.
Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Moel Hebog: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EG472
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Llandwrog - Llandwrog
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night training exercise from the RAF Llandwrog (Caernarfon). En route, while flying at an altitude of 6,000 feet in poor visibility, the crew encountered turbulence and obtained them permission to descend when the twin engine aircraft hit the north slope of Mt Moel Hebog located southwest of Beddgelert. A crew member was injured while all four other occupants were killed.
Crew (9th OAFU):
F/O Ray Alexander Dawson, pilot, †
P/O John Edgar Gunning, navigator, †
Sgt John Frederick Potts, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Harry Howard, wireless operator,
P/O Donald Archibald McFadyen, air bomber. †

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Mt Mynydd Perfedd: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1944 at 0400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LT116
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Llandwrog - Llandwrog
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from the RAF Llandwrog (Caernarfon Airport) and while cruising by night over the Snowdonia mountains, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Mynydd Perfedd (812 meters high). The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all four occupants were killed.
Crew (9th AFU):
Sgt John George Shepherd, pilot,
Sgt Edwin John Keightley, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC John Chrystal, navigator,
LAC John Thomas Key, navigator.
Source and photos:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/wales/walesperfedd.htm
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a navigation error on part of the pilot.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Caernarfon: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1943 at 1135 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EG278
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising at its assigned altitude, the twin engine aircraft broke in mid air and crashed in a farmland located in Caernarfon. All four occupants, two pilots and two ATC cadets, were killed.
Crew (9th AFU):
P/O Laurence A. Walker, pilot,
Sgt James Winchester, wireless operator.
Passengers:
Geoffrey A. Stapleton,
Geoffrey Foulkes.