Kinloss - Kinloss

On November 17, 1980 at 07:30 AM, Kinloss - Kinloss experienced a crash involving BAe Nimrod, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Kinloss Moray (Elginshire).

The flight was categorized as survey / patrol / reconnaissance and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

20 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 18 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 10.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 16, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is other causes. Just before 07:30 a crew took off in semi-darkness on the final sortie of their conversion from the Nimrod 1 to the Nimrod MR2 aircraft. Being the final sortie, the normal crew was increased to 20 by 5 checking crew and an additional Air Engineer. The surface wind was 070 degrees at 02 kts, with 8 km visibility in rain and a main cloud base of 3000 ft. Engine response and indications during the takeoff run were normal, but shortly after takeoff, at an estimated height of 20 ft, the aircraft flew through a dense flock of Canada Geese flying in arrowhead formation between overnight roosting and daily feeding grounds. It suffered numerous bird-strikes. Almost simultaneously the no.1 engine surged violently, suffering a catastrophic internal failure. The low pressure compressors on the nos 2 and 3 engines were also damaged and, although they continued to run, they produced little thrust. Effectively the fully laden aircraft was being powered by only the No 4 engine which itself may have been damaged. Some 27 seconds after takeoff the aircraft came down on the relatively soft tree-tops of a forest of young pine trees 1300 yards from the end of the runway and was quickly engulfed in flames. Source: ASN

Aircraft reference details include registration XV256, MSN 8031, year of manufacture 1970.