London-Heathrow

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

London - London

MSN:

6829

YOM:

1948

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was approaching to land at London Airport on runway 23L after a five-minute local pleasure flight. It was coming in after a Stratocruiser and had reached a point between the beginning of the runway approach lighting and the Bath Road when it encountered turbulent air at a height of 300 feet. The pilot lost control and the aircraft crashed just inside the aerodrome and 475 yards from the threshold of the runway. On impact with the ground the nose of the aircraft disintegrated and the pilot was thrown out and severely injured. Five of the eight passengers received injuries of a lesser degree.

Probable cause:

Loss of control on final approach caused by the wake turbulences created by a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser that just landed on the same runway.

Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 610 Viking 1B in London-Heathrow: 28 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1950 at 1954 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viking

Operator:

Registration:

G-AHPN

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Schedule:

Paris – Northolt

MSN:

155

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft left Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 1839LT bound for Northolt. While descending to Northolt at an altitude of 4,500 feet, the crew was informed by ATC that fog had reduced the visibility at Northolt to 50 yards. On receiving this information, the pilot announced that he would attempt to land at London-Heathrow. Although visibility at Heathrow was 40 yards only, it had the facilities for a Ground Controlled Approach (GCA). The pilot told ATC that if he could not safely land at London Airport, he would divert to Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire or Manston Airport in Kent. The aircraft carried out what appeared to be a normal GCA, reaching the decision height of 140 feet at about 400 yards short of runway threshold. As the pilot was unable to locate the runway, he decided to go around, increased power and raised the landing gear. Few seconds later, the aircraft struck the runway surface and skidded for about 140 feet before regaining the air. With both propellers damaged by the initial contact with the ground, it stalled and crashed approximately 3,000 feet past the runway threshold. The starboard wing being torn off and the aircraft bursting into flames as it came to rest next to a store of drain-pipes. The thick fog hindered rescue attempts and it took the fire and rescue teams 16 to 17 minutes to find the crashed aircraft. Of the 30 people on board there were only two survivors, a stewardess and a passenger, both had been seated near the tail.

Probable cause:

Although it cannot be established with certainty, the probable explanation of the known facts may be that the captain deliberately came down below break-off point and then at 100 feet or less came into fog which abruptly reduced the visibility of the runway lights and that then and not till then he started overshoot procedure with fatal results.

Final Report:

Crash of a Grumman G-73 Mallard in London: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1949 at 0100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-73 Mallard

Operator:

Registration:

NC2956

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

J-15

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1235

Circumstances:

After takeoff from London-Heathrow Airport, while climbing to a height of some 30-50 feet, the seaplane banked left to an angle of 40° and then lost height and hit the ground some 150 yards to the left of the runway. The aircraft continued for some 450 yards before coming to rest in flames. A crew member was seriously injured while six other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3D in London-Heathrow: 20 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1948 at 2114 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

OO-AWH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Brussels – London

MSN:

43154

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The approach to London-Heathrow Airport was completed in reduced visibility due to the night and foggy conditions. On final, the airplane impacted the ground, exploded and came to rest short of the runway threshold, bursting into flames. Two passengers survived the crash and were seriously injured while 20 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Henri Goblet, pilot,
Jean Lomba, radio operator,
Louis De Geyndt, steward.

Probable cause:

The pilot continued the approach below the minimum safe altitude and was unable to distinguish the ground due to the low visibility caused by night and fog. At the time of the accident, the visibility was 200 yards.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster B3 in Heathrow

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Avro 691 Lancastrian

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGUL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

London-Heathrow - London-Heathrow

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a night training mission in London-Heathrow Airport. On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, ground looped and came to rest. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft christened 'Star Watch' was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in London-Heathrow

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Avro 685 York

Operator:

Registration:

G-AIUP

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII

Schedule:

Berlin – London

MSN:

1374

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

After landing, the four engine aircraft encountered brakes problem and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came across a river 250 yards further on. All 24 occupants were evacuated safely, four of them were slightly injured. The aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Failure of brake systems due to a broken cable, probably due to an excessive use during the preceding days.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Heathrow

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AIHW

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII

Schedule:

Valencia - London

MSN:

1357

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed very hard. After being parked on apron, the technician proceeded to a complete inspection which revealed that the fuselage was buckled. The aircraft was declared as damaged beyond economical repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who failed to follow the published approach procedure and failed to complete a correct flare, causing the aircraft to land hard.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII off Knokke-Heist: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1946 at 0600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AHZN

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors: