Negombo – Northolt

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the engine # 3 failed. The captain elected to fly over the sea to ditch the aircraft but the York stalled, hit palms and crashed 5 km from the airport. All four crew members and 7 passengers were killed, three passengers were injured while six others were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.

Flight / Schedule

Negombo – Northolt

Aircraft

Avro 685 York

Registration

MW198

MSN

MW198

Year of Manufacture

1945

Date

March 18, 1947 at 12:00 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Negombo Western Province (<U+0BAE><U+0BC7><U+0BB2><U+0BCD> <U+0BAE><U+0BBE><U+0B95><U+0BBE><U+0BA3><U+0BAE><U+0BCD>)

Region

Asia • Sri Lanka

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On March 18, 1947 at 12:00 AM, Negombo – Northolt experienced a crash involving Avro 685 York, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Negombo Western Province (<U+0BAE><U+0BC7><U+0BB2><U+0BCD> <U+0BAE><U+0BBE><U+0B95><U+0BBE><U+0BA3><U+0BAE><U+0BCD>).

The flight was categorized as military 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, 11 fatalities were recorded, 9 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 55.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 16, passenger fatalities: 7, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the engine # 3 failed. The captain elected to fly over the sea to ditch the aircraft but the York stalled, hit palms and crashed 5 km from the airport. All four crew members and 7 passengers were killed, three passengers were injured while six others were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration MW198, MSN MW198, year of manufacture 1945.

Fatalities

Total

11

Crew

4

Passengers

7

Other

0

Crash Summary

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the engine # 3 failed. The captain elected to fly over the sea to ditch the aircraft but the York stalled, hit palms and crashed 5 km from the airport. All four crew members and 7 passengers were killed, three passengers were injured while six others were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

4

Passengers On Board

16

Estimated Survivors

9

Fatality Rate

55.0%

Known people on board: 20

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Negombo – Northolt

Flight Type

Military

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Asia • Sri Lanka

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Avro 685 York

Registration

MW198

MSN

MW198

Year of Manufacture

1945

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