Abingdon – Akrotiri

On March 5, 1957 at 11:00 AM, Abingdon – Akrotiri experienced a crash involving Blackburn B-101 Beverley, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Abingdon AFB Oxfordshire.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a city crash site.

22 people were known to be on board, 20 fatalities were recorded, 2 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 90.9%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 17, passenger fatalities: 15, other fatalities: 2.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft departed RAF Abingdon at 1042LT bound for RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. It was carrying cargo, a relief crew, eight RAF police dog handlers and eight police dogs. There was low cloud at 500 feet (150 m), visibility was less than 1,000 feet (300 m), and an easterly wind of 10 knots (19 km/h). As the aircraft climbed, the engine number one developed a fuel leak. The flight crew responded by shutting down the engine and feathering its propeller. The flight crew declared an emergency and requested a blind approach to RAF Abingdon. The controller alerted emergency services on the ground. A short time later, cockpit instruments alerted the flight crew to a large loss of fuel from No. 2 fuel tank, the second of four such tanks in the port wing. In an effort to stop the leak, the crew de-activated the fuel cocks and boosters for the No. 2 tank, but left them on for the No. 1 tank. As the Beverley turned on to final approach for RAF Abingdon the crew attempted to increase power from the remaining three Bristol Centaurus engines but No. 2 engine – also on the port wing – failed to respond and the aircraft began to lose speed and height. Knowing he could not reach the airfield, the captain tried to land in a field. However, the aircraft became uncontrollable and struck a number of high tension cables and a group of elm trees that tore the port wing from the fuselage. On impact with the ground, the aircraft destroyed a caravan and a prefabricated house before somersaulting and crashing upside down. Eighteen occupants were killed, among them three crew members, and two people on the ground.

Aircraft reference details include registration XH117, MSN 1023, year of manufacture 7.