British South American Airways - BSAA

Avro 19

Shortly after takeoff from Luton, the crew encountered an unknown technical problem and elected to return. The pilot in command realized this would not be possible so he reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. The twin engine aircraft belly landed in a pasture and skidded for several yards before coming to rest with the left engine sheared off. Both crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Avro 685 York

During the takeoff roll at Rio de Janeiro, the tire on the right main gear burst. The crew continued the takeoff procedure and after departure, the copilot and the flight engineer proceeded to a visual control of the right main gear and did not notice anything unusual. After three hours and a half into the flight, the engine number three caught fire. The captain started an emergency descent and elected to land in Caravelas. On touchdown in a field, the aircraft went out of control and came to rest in flames. Three passengers were killed while 12 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Avro 689 Tudor

Christened 'Star Tiger', the four engine aircraft left Horta, in the Azores Islands, at 1534LT bound for Hamilton, Bermuda. At 0200LT, about 10,5 hours into the flight, the navigator Cyril Ellison fixed its position and learned that they too had been blown off course and were crabbing away from Bermuda. He informed the pilot McMillan about a new course which turned the aircraft directly into a gale. However, McMillan still expected to reach Bermuda with at least an hour's worth of fuel remaining upon landing. At 0304LT, the radio officer Robert Tuck requested a radio bearing from Bermuda, but the signal was not strong enough to obtain an accurate reading. He repeated the request eleven minutes later, and this time the Bermuda radio operator was able to obtain a bearing of 72 degrees, accurate to within 2 degrees. The Bermuda operator transmitted this information, and Tuck acknowledged receipt at 0317LT. This was the last radio contact with the aircraft and its crew. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Hamilton, SAR operations were conducted but were eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 31 occupants was found.

Avro 691 Lancastrian

After takeoff from Hamilton bound for Havana, while climbing to a height of 9,000 feet, the engine number four caught fire. The crew elected to return to Hamilton-Kindley Field for an emergency landing. On final approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. All 16 occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Avro 691 Lancastrian

The crew was completing a night training mission in London-Heathrow Airport. On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, ground looped and came to rest. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft christened 'Star Watch' was damaged beyond repair.

Avro 691 Lancastrian

While approaching Bermuda on a flight from London to Havana, the crew was instructed by ATC to stack due to poor weather conditions (thunderstorm). After 90 minutes, the crew was cleared to land at Hamilton-Kindley Field and started the approach that was completed in marginal weather conditions and poor visibility. Too low, the four engine aircraft christened 'Star Trail' hit a radio mast, stalled and crashed few hundred yards short of runway. All 20 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was written off.

Avro 691 Lancastrian

After passing over Mendoza, enroute to Santiago de Chile, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with strong winds (up to 180 km/h) and heavy snow falls. While cruising at an altitude of 15,000 feet, the four engine aircraft christened 'Star Dust' hit the slope of Mt Tupungaro located in the Argentinian Andes. As the airplane failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. About 53 years later, in 2000, an official mission conducted by Argentinian Army Officers and Scientists was organized to find the aircraft. Few debris and three bodies were found and repatriated down to the valley.

Avro 685 York

On final approach to Dakar-Yoff Airport, the captain decided to go around due to low visibility causes by poor weather conditions. A second and a third attempt to land were aborted few minutes later. During the fourth attempt, while short of fuel, the aircraft landed hard and the undercarriage were sheared off. The aircraft slid on its belly for several yards and came to rest, broken in two. Six passengers were killed while nine other occupants were injured.

Avro 685 York

The aircraft arrived in Bathurst at 0243LT from Lisbon and the crew was changed. The departure was performed at 0408LT in fair weather conditions. Two minutes later, while in initial climb, the aircraft failed to gain height and hit few trees with its left wing. It then banked left and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 3 km from the airport. The aircraft christened 'Star Leader' was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 24 occupants were killed.

Avro 691 Lancastrian

Upon touchdown, the aircraft lost its undercarriage, went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft christened 'Star Glow' was damaged beyond repair.