Belfast – Manchester

On August 19, 1949 at 11:59 AM, Belfast – Manchester experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by British European Airways - BEA, with the event recorded near Mossley Great Manchester.

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

32 people were known to be on board, 24 fatalities were recorded, 8 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 75.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 29, passenger fatalities: 21, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew left Belfast-Nutts Corner Airport at 1058LT and started the approach to Manchester-Ringway Airport from the northeast in marginal weather conditions. While descending at an altitude of 1,350 feet in low visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain (1,400 feet high) located in the Pennines mountain range, about two miles east of Mossley. The aircraft hit the slope less than 50 feet below the summit and was destroyed by impact forces. All three crew members and 21 passengers were killed while eight passengers were seriously injured.

Aircraft reference details include registration G-AHCY, MSN 12355, year of manufacture 1944.