Crash of a BAe 3101 Jetstream 32 in Prestwick: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1992 at 1522 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-SUPR
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Prestwick - East Midlands
MSN:
956
YOM:
1991
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Prestwick Airport on a training flight to East Midlands Airport. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the crew simulated an engine failure. The aircraft nosed up and adopted a high angle of attack with the gear still down. Ten seconds after liftoff, the copilot was still attempting to determine which engine failed and the pilot/instructor reminded him that the gear were still down. When the stall warning sounded, the pilot took over control within 2 seconds and increased engine power but the aircraft rolled to the right and crashed inverted. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing 707-436 in Prestwick

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1977 at 0849 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-APFK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Prestwick - Prestwick
MSN:
17712/164
YOM:
1960
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
10180
Captain / Total hours on type:
1500.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
2093
Copilot / Total hours on type:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
53180
Circumstances:
March 17, 1977 was the fourth day of a Boeing 707-436 conversion base training programme at Glasgow-Prestwick Airport (PIK). On the day of the accident the trainee first officer was in the right hand pilot's seat and was flying the first detail. The commander was in the left hand pilot's seat, and the captain under training was acting as flight engineer, being supervised by the fourth crew member, a supervisory first officer who was seated behind the commander. After completing all the necessary checks and the engine starting procedure the commander gave the trainee first officer a comprehensive briefing on cross wind takeoff techniques with reference to the local weather forecast, which gave a surface wind of 190° /18 knots gusting to 35 knots. In particular he emphasised the need for into-wind aileron, demonstrating the amount required, and for opposite rudder. At 08:42 the aircraft was cleared to taxi to runway 13. While taxiing, the 'taxiing checklist' was completed. At the light aircraft weights used for training, standardized takeoff airspeeds were used as follows: V1 - 125 knots, VR - 135 knots and V2 - 145 knots. Based on the prevailing conditions and actual aircraft takeoff weight of 94,580 kg, the true takeoff airspeeds were: V1 - 125 knots, VR - 125 knots and V2 - 142 knots; the VMCG and the VMCA were 125 knots and 119 knots respectively. After receiving ATC clearance, the aircraft entered the active runway from the fast turnoff for runway 31. From this position the takeoff run available was approximately 2,388 metres; the takeoff run required was 1,433 metres. On entering the runway the commander handed over control to the trainee first officer and the aircraft commenced its takeoff run, from a rolling start, shortly after 08:48. The Tower passed a surface wind of 220° /15 knots and the trainee applied about 15° to 20° of into-wind aileron (ie right wing down) and some left rudder. Full power was then applied and the V1 and VR airspeeds were called by the flight engineer. As the aircraft was being rotated to a pitch attitude of 4 1/2° the commander simulated a No. 1 engine failure by retarding the appropriate thrust lever, and calling out "number one engine's failed." After the aircraft became airborne it climbed away in a normal manner to a height of approximately 20 to 30 feet when suddenly the left wing dropped about 20° and the No. 1 engine nacelle struck the left edge of the runway. The aircraft then began to yaw and roll to the right and to sink to the ground. The yaw/roll continued until No. 4 nacelle struck the runway and the aircraft then tracked sideways down the runway, with the engines and other parts of the structure breaking away and the landing gear collapsing. It came to a stop almost at the intersection of runway 03/21. The distance from the start of the takeoff roll to this point was approximately 2,230 metres. A fire erupted. The external fire was rapidly dealt with but the internal fire was not extinguished for some 50 minutes.
Probable cause:
A loss of control which resulted from a delay in taking full corrective action during a simulated outboard engine failure exercise during take-off.
Final Report:

Crash of Scottish Twin Pioneer in Kinlet

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
XL664
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Prestwick – Boscombe Down
MSN:
135
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On a delivery flight from Prestwick to RAF Boscombe Down, both engines failed. The pilot elected to restart the engine but without success and eventually decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field located in Kinlet, Shropshire. While descending, the airplane struck trees and crashed. The pilot was uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that both engines stopped because the fuel selector was connected to an empty tank while the starboard tank was full. Also, the approach configuration adopted by the pilot was improper, causing the airplane to struck trees.

Crash of a Vickers 802 Viscount in Craigie

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1958 at 2208 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AORC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
London - Prestwick
MSN:
254
YOM:
1957
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The accident occurred at 2208 hours during an unscheduled flight from London to Prestwick where the aircraft mas to pick up passengers for BOAC under a charter arrangement and fly them to London. The aircraft took off at 2042 hours GMT from London Airport, cruised on the Airways at 18 500 ft and then commenced the descent to Prestwick with an initial clearance to 8 500 ft. Within a few minutes the clearance was amended to cross the Prestwick radio beacon at 4 000 ft. The descent appeared to the pilots to be normal until the aircraft struck the ground close to the site of the beacon very shortly after the captain had reported passing 11 000 ft in the holding pattern. The aircraft slid along the ground for 400 yards, and fire broke out in the starboard wing, Of the five crew aboard the aircraft, three were seriously injured. The airplane was totally destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The captain flew the aircraft into the ground during the descent to Prestwick after misreading the altimeter by 10 000 ft. Whilst a somewhat ambiguous presentation of height on the pressure altimeter may have initiated this misreading. A lack of cooperation between the captain and first officer and a lack of alertness on the part of the first officer were the main contributory factors.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas B-26B Invader in Sorn: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 13, 1956 at 2225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
8811-B
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Keflavik - Prestwick
MSN:
29029
YOM:
1944
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from the US to France to deliver the aircraft to the French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) via Keflavik and Prestwick. During a night approach, the crew encountered low visibility due to poor weather conditions. While flying at an altitude of 800 feet, the aircraft hit the ground, became briefly airborne and crashed in a huge explosion some 20 km east of Prestwick Airport, near the village of Sorn. The wreckage was found five hours later and both crew members have been killed.
Crew:
Edgar Joseph Flanagan, pilot,
Wayne Archer Taylor, navigator.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Kyleake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CF-EPX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Montreal – Godthab – Keflavik – Prestwick – Karachi
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Montreal to Karachi, the aircraft being delivered to the Pakistan government. While approaching the Scottish coast, both engines failed. The captain attempted to ditch the aircraft off Kyleake. On touchdown, the seaplane lost its floats, drifted away and eventually sank. Five crew members were rescued while the navigator was killed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion due to strong headwinds.

Crash of a Boeing 377-10-28 Stratocruiser in Prestwick: 28 killed

Date & Time: Dec 25, 1954 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ALSA
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
London – Prestwick – Shannon – Gander – New York
MSN:
15943
YOM:
1949
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
25
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
The flight from London to Prestwick was uneventful. Throughout the flight the captain kept in touch with the weather conditions and Prestwick Approach Control received the aircraft about 0248 hours. Preceding the aircraft by approximately four minutes in arrival at Prestwick was a Constellation, and these two aircraft were fed into the stack at Prestwick; the Constellation at 4 000 feet and the Stratocruiser at 5 000 feet. The runway to be used was Runway 31 which required the approach to be made from the southeast. The Instrument Landing System (hereinafter called ILS) without the Glide Path and the Ground Control Approach system (hereinafter called GCA) were available on Runway 31. G. C.A. took over the Stratocruiser about 0314 hours and at 0323 hours the talk-down controller 'took over the aircraft. Meantime Meteorological Reports had been passing from ground to air. The talk-down was completed at 0325 hours when the aircraft was 400 yards from the threshold of Runway 31. The approach up to this point had been high but uneventful. A few seconds later the aircraft struck the ground 127 feet short of the threshold of Runway 31, sustaining some damage. It then ran on to the runway and proceeded for some 90 feet where it was again airborne for another 400 feet. It then contacted the runway and sustained considerable damage, and came to rest with the passenger compartment in an inverted position on the south side of the runway about 550 yards from the threshold. Except for the front portion of the fuselage which lay on its port side, severe damage resulted from fire which broke out and spread rapidly, due probably to the partial detachment of the port wing and rupture of the fuel tanks. From the accident there survived seven of the crew and one passenger.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of errors of judgment on the part of the captain in:
- starting his final approach to land at too steep an angle and,
- flaring out too late and too severely with the result that the aircraft sank and hit the ground short of the runway. During the flare out the aircraft passed through low cloud, thus reducing the captain's visibility. The accident was also contributed to by the failure of the first officer to carry out the order of the captain to put on the landing lights which prevented the captain from observing timeously the low cloud over the approach lights.
Final Report:

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-65-BN Washington B.1off Barrow-in-Furness: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1954 at 0027 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF495
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Prestwick – Lajes
MSN:
11604
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 12,000 feet off the Isle of Man, the crew informed ground about vibrations and icing conditions. The pilot obtained the permission to reduce his altitude to 8,000 feet when few minutes later, he sent a brief message saying he was losing control of the aircraft that crashed into the Irish Sea about 6 miles south of Barrow-in-Furness. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the seven crew members was found. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were poor with wind and snow falls. The sea was rough and SAR operations were difficult to conduct.
Crew:
F/Lt R. N. Williams, pilot,
A. K. Passmore, copilot,
Mr. Kirkland, navigator,
Mr. Kennell, navigator,
Mr. Clamp, signaller,
Mr. Noble, flight engineer,
Mr. Johnston, gunner.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the loss of control was caused by an excessive accumulation of ice on all critical surfaces and engines was not ruled out.

Ground fire of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Prestwick

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1949
Operator:
Registration:
G-AKSF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6490
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the engine start-up, a fire erupted. The pilot, sole on board, was able to evacuate the cabin before the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Lockheed L-049-46-25 Constellation in Prestwick: 40 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1948 at 2332 LT
Operator:
Registration:
PH-TEN
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Amsterdam – Prestwick – Gander – New York
MSN:
2083
YOM:
1947
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Circumstances:
The descent to Prestwick Airport was completed by night. On final approach to runway 32, the captain encountered strong winds and decided to start a go around and to follow a holding pattern. He later obtained the permission to start an approach to runway 26. On final, the four engine aircraft christened 'Nijmegen' went into few patches of fog when the pilot said on the frequency: 'we hit something, try to get height'. Shortly later, the aircraft crashed in flames in a field located 5 km short of the runway threshold. A passenger was seriously injured while 39 other occupants were killed. The only survivor died from his injuries few hours later.
Probable cause:
It was determined that:
- When the pilot started his landing maneuver for runway 26 of Prestwick Airport the weather conditions were already below the limits for this maneuver but that from the weather forecasts received this could not be known to him and that this could not be personally judged at the time.
- That, although the landing on runway 26 under the weather conditions, as far as these were known to the pilot, required the greatest caution, the pilot could not be blamed for having commenced that landing procedure.
- That flying too long on the downwind-leg of runway 26 caused the accident.
- That, if no unknown circumstances contributed to the extension of the flight on the downwind-leg of runway 26, the extension was due to the delayed action of the pilot after he lost visual approach.
- That it was not impossible that a stronger wind that the pilot accounted for contributed to the extension of the flight on the downwind-leg of runway 26.
- That the possibility of other circumstances as mentioned under 4 could not be ruled out, but that no data was available which could give cause for the supposition that they contributed to the extension of the flight at a low altitude on the downwind-leg of runway 26.