Cherbourg – Saint Peter

On November 1, 1961 at 02:26 PM, Cherbourg – Saint Peter experienced a crash involving Bristol 170 Freighter, operated by Silver City Airways, with the event recorded near Saint Peter-La Villiaze Channel Islands.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

10 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 8 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 20.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 7, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The aircraft was making a daylight scheduled vehicle and passenger public transport flight from Cherbourg, France and during an attempt to land at Guernsey in conditions of low cloud the captain missed his approach. He opened up the engines to go round again, but the aircraft failed to gain height. Veering to the right it flew a short distance with the starboard propeller rotating slowly until the starboard wing struck the ground, and the aircraft cartwheeled. The passenger cabin broke away from the main wreckage which caught fire. Both pilots were killed. The steward and all 7 passengers aboard were seriously injured. The accident occurred at 1416LT.

Aircraft reference details include registration G-ANWL, MSN 13260, year of manufacture 1956.