Crash of a Beechcraft C18 Expeditor in Bournemouth

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-APBX
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
A-0269
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

Crash of a Vickers 614 Viking 1 in Southend

Date & Time: Jul 28, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHPH
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
141
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
36
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Southend Airport while on a charter flight, the crew completed the approach check-list and noted that the green light connected to the right main gear was not ON. The crew elected to use the emergency gear extension system that failed so a landing was attempted on the grassy area parallel to the runway. On touchdown, the undercarriage collapsed and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. All 39 occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Saint Albans

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1959
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHPT
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6478
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While attempting to land on the M1 highway still under construction, the airplane crashed in flames. The pilot and a passenger were killed while four other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire. It was performing a special flight on behalf of Plascom/Tarmac Ltd.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.19 at RAF Jurby

Date & Time: May 26, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VM322
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
North Coates - Jurby
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The tire on the right main gear burst on touchdown at RAF Jurby. The airplane went out of control and came to rest. While both crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Tire burst on landing.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Saint-Just

Date & Time: May 21, 1959
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHLL
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6576
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Land's End Airport (St Just), the twin engine airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and struck a hedge before coming to rest. All six occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson T.21 near Llandudno: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VV955
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bovingdon – Ballykelly
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from RAF Bovingdon to RAF Ballykelly on behalf of the coastal communications commando. While in cruising altitude, the crew was informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions at destination and was instructed to divert to RAF Valley. Shortly later, while flying in clouds, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Tal y Fan. The aircraft was demolished and all three crew members were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 2A in Cardiff: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ALEC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cardiff - Cardiff
MSN:
04402
YOM:
1958
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was taking part to an airshow at Cardiff Airport, carrying a crew of two and two passengers. While flying in the vicinity of the airfield, the airplane went out of control and crashed in unclear circumstances, killing all four occupants.
Probable cause:
It is believed the accident was the consequence of a pilot error.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.19 at RAF Colerne

Date & Time: May 5, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TX189
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown at RAF Colerne, the undercarriage were sheared off. The aircraft skidded on its belly and came to rest. Both crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.19 at RAF Roborough

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VM308
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training mission from RAF Debden. On approach to RAF Roborough in marginal weather conditions, the pilot made a mistake with the heading settings (error of 20°). On short final, he realized he was not properly aligned with the runway and elected to make a last-second correction to avoid an ambulance parking when the airplane crashed and came to rest in a boundary fence. Both pilots were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew. It was also reported that RAF Roborough is difficult to access, poorly equipped and its runway is considered as too short.

Crash of a Vickers 794D Viscount in London: 14 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1959 at 1647 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TC-SEV
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ankara - Rome - London
MSN:
429
YOM:
1958
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Captain / Total flying hours:
7716
Captain / Total hours on type:
216.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
5504
Copilot / Total hours on type:
103
Aircraft flight hours:
548
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a special flight from Ankara to London via Rome with Adnan Menderes the Prime Minister of Turkey and a party of Turkish Government officials on board. The aircraft left Rome at 13:02. TC-SEV called London Airways at 15:56 after passing Abbeville and was cleared by ATC to the Epsom Radio Range station, the holding point for London Airport. Because of poor visibility at destination London (Heathrow) Airport, the London Airport Commandant decided to inform the Turkish captain that he should divert to Gatwick. At 16:21 hrs the aircraft reported over the Epsom range and was given diversion instructions. At 16:27 it left Epsom for Mayfield, the holding point for Gatwick, where it was informed by Gatwick Approach Control that it would be positioned by radar for an ILS approach to runway 09. The latest weather report for Gatwick was given as wind calm, visibility 1.1 nm, mist, cloud 3 oktas at 600 feet, QFE 1036 mb. Over the Mayfield NDB at 4,000 feet the flight was instructed to steer a course of 280 and to descend to 2,000 feet. This was acknowledged. A further descent clearance was given to 1500 feet. The aircraft overshot the centre line slightly as it turned on to the ILS approach path. At 5nm from touchdown, the aircraft affirmed that it could continue on the ILS. TC-SEV was then asked to change to tower frequency and this request was acknowledged. This was the last communication with the aircraft. At a position of some 5 km from the runway threshold and 550 feet to the north of the approach path centre line, the aircraft contacted tops of trees 390 feet amsl at the edge of Jordan's Wood. The aircraft began to disintegrate as it descended through the trees at an angle of about 6 degrees from the horizontal until the wheels made contact with the ground. After rising again slightly the main part of the wreckage came to rest about 100 yards further on and then caught fire. The Prime Minister Adnan Menderes survived the accident with nine other people while 14 other occupants were killed, among them five crew members.
Probable cause:
The evidence is insufficient to establish the cause of the accident. There is no indication however that this can be associated either with a technical failure of the aircraft or with a failure of the ground services. Thus it is believed the accident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain.