Date & Time:
Feb 17, 1952 at 0606 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
G-ALFD
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Croydon – Brussels
MSN:
EG689
YOM:
1946
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
0
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total hours on type:
50
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Croydon Airport in the early morning to deliver newspapers in Brussels. On board were two crew members, one pilot and one radio operator. On approach to Brussels-Zaventem Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with an horizontal visibility of 500 metres and a ceiling down to 150 metres. On short final, he established a visual contact with lights and continued the approach. While facing an obstacle, he increased the engine power when the airplane collided with a telegraphic pole and crashed onto a house located 1,130 metres short of runway. There was no fire. The airplane and the house were destroyed. Both occupants were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
The accident resulted from a combination of the following factors:
- A lack of foresight, which forced the pilot to land in weather conditions that were below those for which he was authorized, and to do so at an airfield with which he was unfamiliar;
- The pilot’s imprecise maneuvers during instrument flight caused a loss of time, ultimately preventing him from reaching an alternate airfield;
- This imprecision led him, on final approach, to a point where it was no longer possible for him to land by using the approach lights as a guide;
- The pilot’s incomplete knowledge of the airfield led him to confuse the approach lights with the runway lights.
- A lack of foresight, which forced the pilot to land in weather conditions that were below those for which he was authorized, and to do so at an airfield with which he was unfamiliar;
- The pilot’s imprecise maneuvers during instrument flight caused a loss of time, ultimately preventing him from reaching an alternate airfield;
- This imprecision led him, on final approach, to a point where it was no longer possible for him to land by using the approach lights as a guide;
- The pilot’s incomplete knowledge of the airfield led him to confuse the approach lights with the runway lights.
Final Report:
G-ALFD.pdf9.64 MB
