Stansted - Stansted
Flight / Schedule
Stansted - Stansted
Aircraft
Handley Page H.P.81 HermesRegistration
G-ALDV
MSN
81/22
Year of Manufacture
1950
Operator
Skyways of LondonDate
April 1, 1958 at 11:13 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Test
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Crash Location
Meesden Hertfordshire
Region
Europe • United Kingdom
Coordinates
51.9727°, 0.0791°
Crash Cause
Technical failure
Narrative Report
On April 1, 1958 at 11:13 AM, Stansted - Stansted experienced a crash involving Handley Page H.P.81 Hermes, operated by Skyways of London, with the event recorded near Meesden Hertfordshire.
The flight was categorized as test and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.
3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is technical failure. The aircraft took off on a test flight from Stansted Airport at 1059LT and climbed steeply towards the northwest. A few minutes later it was observed approaching the airport from the west at a height of approximately 1,500 feet. At 1113LT the Air Traffic Control Tower received a radio call from the aircraft in which the captain declared an emergency and said that the controls were jammed. At about the same time the aircraft was seen some 6 miles northeast of the airfield descending in a series of dives and climbs. It crashed in a field shortly thereafter killing the crew of three. The greater part of the wreckage was destroyed by fire.
Aircraft reference details include registration G-ALDV, MSN 81/22, year of manufacture 1950.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 51.9727°, 0.0791°.
Fatalities
Total
3
Crew
3
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The aircraft took off on a test flight from Stansted Airport at 1059LT and climbed steeply towards the northwest. A few minutes later it was observed approaching the airport from the west at a height of approximately 1,500 feet. At 1113LT the Air Traffic Control Tower received a radio call from the aircraft in which the captain declared an emergency and said that the controls were jammed. At about the same time the aircraft was seen some 6 miles northeast of the airfield descending in a series of dives and climbs. It crashed in a field shortly thereafter killing the crew of three. The greater part of the wreckage was destroyed by fire.
Cause: Technical failure
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
3
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 3
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Stansted - Stansted
Operator
Skyways of LondonFlight Type
Test
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Region / Country
Europe • United Kingdom
Aircraft Details
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