Country
code

Midlothian (County of Edinburgh)

Ground collision with a Fokker F27 in Edinburgh

Date & Time: Feb 2, 2008 at 2115 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TC-MBG
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Edinburgh - Coventry
MSN:
10459
YOM:
1971
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
4080
Captain / Total hours on type:
2745.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft was scheduled to operate a night cargo flight from Edinburgh to Coventry. The weather conditions at Edinburgh Airport were wintry with snowfall, which required the aircraft to be de-iced. Shortly after both engines had been started, the commander signalled to the marshaller to remove the Ground Power Unit (GPU) from the aircraft, which was facing nose out from its stand, down a slight slope. As the marshaller went to assist his colleague to remove the GPU to a safe distance prior to the aircraft taxiing off the stand, the aircraft started to move forward slowly, forcing them to run to safety. The flight crew, who were looking into the cockpit, were unaware that the aircraft was moving. It continued to move forward until its right propeller struck the GPU, causing substantial damage to the GPU, the propeller and the engine. The ground crew were uninjured. No cause as to why the aircraft moved could be positively identified.
Probable cause:
The aircraft moved forward inadvertently after engine start, causing its right propeller to strike a GPU. Possible explanations include that the parking brake was not set, the chocks had slipped from the nosewheel, or the chocks were removed prematurely. There was insufficient evidence to determine which of these scenarios was the most likely. Contributory factors were: the aircraft was facing down a slight downslope, the ramp was slippery due to the weather conditions and the flight crew increased engine speed to top up the pneumatic system pressure. The airport operator’s instructions contained in MDD 04/07 required aircraft facing nose-out on North Cargo Apron stands to be towed onto the taxiway centreline, prior to starting engines. Had these instructions been complied with, the accident would probably have been avoided.
Final Report:

Crash of a Short 360-300 off Edinburgh: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 2001 at 1731 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-BNMT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Edinburgh – Belfast
MSN:
3723
YOM:
1987
Flight number:
LOG670A
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Captain / Total flying hours:
13569
Captain / Total hours on type:
972.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
438
Copilot / Total hours on type:
72
Circumstances:
The aircraft landed at Edinburgh Airport, Scotland, at 00:03 and was parked there on Stand 31 in conditions including light and moderate snowfall. After preparation for a Royal Mail charter flight 670A to Belfast, start clearance was given at 15:03. At 15:12 hrs the crew advised ATC they were shutting down due to a technical problem. The crew then advised their company that a generator would not come on line. An avionics technician carried out diagnosis during which both engines were ground-run twice. No fault was found and the flight crew requested taxi clearance at 17:10. A normal take off from runway 06 was carried out followed by a reduction to climb power at 1,200 feet amsl. At 2,200 feet amsl the aircraft anti-icing systems were selected on. Three seconds later the torque on each engine reduced rapidly to zero. A MAYDAY call was made by the crew advising that they had experienced a double engine failure. The aircraft was ditched in the Firth of Forth estuary some 100 meters from the shoreline near Granton Harbour. Both pilots were killed. Weather reported just before the accident with a temperature of +2°C, dewpoint of -3°C, visibility of more then 10 km, broken clouds at 4500 feet and cover at 8000 feet.
Probable cause:
The following causal factors were identified:
1) The operator did not have an established practical procedure for flight crews to fit engine intake blanks (‘bungs’) in adverse weather conditions. This meant that the advice contained in the aircraft manufacturer’s Maintenance Manual ‘Freezing weather-precautions’ was not complied with. Furthermore intake blanks were not provided on the aircraft nor were any readily available at Edinburgh Airport.
2) A significant amount of snow almost certainly entered into the engine air intakes as a result of the aircraft being parked heading directly into strong surface winds during conditions of light to moderate snowfall overnight.
3) The flow characteristics of the engine intake system most probably allowed large volumes of snow, ice or slush to accumulate in areas where it would not have been readily visible to the crew during a normal pre-flight inspection.
4) At some stage, probably after engine ground running began, the deposits of snow, ice or slush almost certainly migrated from the plenum chambers down to the region of the intake anti-ice vanes. Conditions in the intakes prior to takeoff are considered to have caused re-freezing of the contaminant, allowing a significant proportion to remain in a state which precluded its ingestion into the engines during taxi, takeoff and initial climb.
5) Movement of the intake anti-icing vanes, acting in conjunction with the presence of snow, ice or slush in the intake systems, altered the engine intake air flow conditions and resulted in the near simultaneous flameout of both engines.
6) The standard operating procedure of selecting both intake anti-ice vane switches simultaneously, rather than sequentially with a time interval, eliminated a valuable means of protection against a simultaneous double engine flameout.
Final Report:

Crash of a Hawker-Siddeley HS-125-3B in Edinburgh: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1970 at 1829 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AXPS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Edinburgh - Newcastle
MSN:
25135
YOM:
1967
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
5192
Captain / Total hours on type:
429.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4594
Copilot / Total hours on type:
144
Aircraft flight hours:
1874
Circumstances:
On the day of the accident the aircraft left Bristol under the command of the company's chief pilot for a flight to Edinburgh via East Midlands Airport. After conveying passengers to Edinburgh it was scheduled to position empty at Newcastle Airport to collect passengers for Bristol. Weather briefing had been obtained and a thorough flight plan covering the outward and return flights had been filed before the aircraft left Bristol in the morning. As there were no passengers on the flight from Edinburgh to Newcastle, the captain decided to make use of this sector to continue the other pilot's training for command of the HS-125. Accordingly, the trainee captain was flying the aircraft from the left hand seat. Prior to takeoff he was briefed that a failure of one of the engines (he was not told which one), would be simulated on takeoff and for the purpose of the exercise the rudder bias system would be switched 'OFF'. The pilots decided that no flap would be used for the takeoff which was started from the end of runway 13. The point where the aircraft became airborne was approximately 2,700 feet from the start of the roll, which was normal for the aircraft's weight and configuration, with both engines operating. The training captain called 'rotate' at approximately 120 knots, which was slightly faster than the calculated figure and when the aircraft had reached a height of approximately 12 feet and had accelerated to about 130 knots, he pulled back the thrust lever of the port engine to simulate a failure. He considered that the trainee pilot's reaction to the emergency was slow and was just about to apply right rudder to counteract the yaw when the trainee pilot applied considerable force to the left rudder and locked his leg in position. The captain immediately applied full right aileron and opened the port thrust lever but he was unable to prevent a high rate of roll developing to the left. Approximately 700 feet after the point where the aircraft became airborne the port wing tip struck the runway, fracturing the port fuel tank and spilling out fuel. The aircraft left the runway at an angle of approximately 30 degrees to the left and travelled across the grass, becoming partially inverted before settling back sideways on the ground on its undercarriage. The sideways movement of the aircraft pulled off the nose gear and the aircraft then gyrated across the airfield sustaining further structural damage before coming to rest on its main wheels and tail facing approximately in the opposite direction to the direction of takeoff. During the aircraft's gyrations on the ground, fuel, which was centrifuged out of the fractured port tank, ignited and a flash fire occurred. When the aircraft finally came to rest there was a small residual fire in the port wing which was very quickly extinguished by the airport fire service.
Probable cause:
The application of incorrect rudder following a simulated engine failure on take-off. The reason for this application of incorrect rudder has not been determined.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove in Edinburgh

Date & Time: May 29, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ANDY
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
04441
YOM:
1953
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Edinburgh-Turnhouse Airport, while climbing, an engine failed. The airplane struck power cables, stalled and crashed in a field. Both crew members were evacuated while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after liftoff.

Crash of a Dornier DO.28A-1 in Edinburgh

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1960
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OY-AIW
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3005
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach by night to Edinburgh Airport, the twin engine airplane crashed in a corn field short of runway 13. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot, sole on board, was injured.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 at RAF Turnhouse

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA657
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hemswell - Turnhouse
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft bounced and landing and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest in a drainage ditch. All five crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson C.12 at RAF Turnhouse

Date & Time: May 4, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PH647
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Turnhouse - Turnhouse
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff run, at high speed, an undercarriage collapsed. The airplane skidded on runway and eventually came to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed during takeoff.

Crash of a Avro 652 Anson XI in RAF Turnhouse

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PH749
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Turnhouse - Turnhouse
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Turnhouse. After touchdown, the twin engine aircraft encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest into a ditch. Both crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Baron’s Park: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
43-5294
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
285
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Baron’s Park, southeast of Edinburgh. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

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

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
R5928
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Abbotsinch - Edinburgh
MSN:
6465
YOM:
1939
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on approach to Edinburgh in snow falls, crew made an emergency landing on the Carrick Knowe Golf course located in Corstorphine, less than 2 km from runway threshold. Both crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.