Belfast – Manchester
Flight / Schedule
Belfast – Manchester
Aircraft
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)Registration
G-AHCY
MSN
12355
Year of Manufacture
1944
Operator
British European Airways - BEADate
August 19, 1949 at 11:59 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Mossley Great Manchester
Region
Europe • United Kingdom
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
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.
Fatalities
Total
24
Crew
3
Passengers
21
Other
0
Crash Summary
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.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
3
Passengers On Board
29
Estimated Survivors
8
Fatality Rate
75.0%
Known people on board: 32
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Belfast – Manchester
Operator
British European Airways - BEAFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Europe • United Kingdom
Aircraft Details
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