Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 31M in Marville AFB: 8 killed
Date & Time:
Dec 30, 1963 at 2156 LT
Operator:
Registration:
9697
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
London-Gatwick – Marville
MSN:
12830
YOM:
1947
Flight number:
SF90
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed London-Gatwick Airport on Service Flight 90 to Marville, carrying five passengers (crew family members), six crew members and a load of 2,5 tons of various goods. The aircraft was reported by the GCA controller as on the 'glide path' and making a correction in azimuth. On final approach to runway 12, the airplane descended into trees and crashed in the Montmédy forest, 2 km short of runway, bursting into flames. Four crew members and four passengers were killed while three other occupants were injured.
Crew:
F/Lt Verner Isadore Clouthier, copilot, †
F/Lt John Kenneth Hamlen, pilot, †
F/Lt Brotton Lyall Johnson, navigator, †
F/Lt Edward John Walshe, radio operator, †
Lac Cougle,
W/Cdr R. G. Middlemiss.
Passengers:
Sgt Peter Anton George Bach, †
Mrs. Hazel Leonora Middlemiss, †
Miss D. Middlemiss,
Mrs. Hazel Mary Bach, †
Mr Donald George Bach. †
Crew:
F/Lt Verner Isadore Clouthier, copilot, †
F/Lt John Kenneth Hamlen, pilot, †
F/Lt Brotton Lyall Johnson, navigator, †
F/Lt Edward John Walshe, radio operator, †
Lac Cougle,
W/Cdr R. G. Middlemiss.
Passengers:
Sgt Peter Anton George Bach, †
Mrs. Hazel Leonora Middlemiss, †
Miss D. Middlemiss,
Mrs. Hazel Mary Bach, †
Mr Donald George Bach. †
Probable cause:
In summarizing it was evident that the GCA radar return produced on this equipment was abnormal because of some undetermined technical defect. The relatively inexperienced controller misinterpreted this defect, which was displayed as a target extension of the actual return, and unwittingly descended the aircraft on a glide path approximately 160-175 feet below the normal glide path. Adequate supervision and training of controlling techniques would have precluded this error. Finally, the pilot descended the aircraft slightly (approximately 40 feet) below the minimum approach altitude. This sequence of events resulted in the crash. In the Board's opinion, the factor of greatest magnitude was caused by the GCA controller, who, because of lack of proficiency, accepted an unsatisfactory target return as an acceptable target.
Final Report:
