Bristol 170 Freighter

Trans-Provincial Airlines - TPA

The weather at the departure airfield consisted of a light and variable wind, good visibility and a temperature of 20ºC. At the start of the take-off run the aircraft, which was being flown by the copilot, who is also an experienced pilot with some 60 hours on type, began to swing to the right. Corrective action caused it to swing to the left but, after further correction,the aircraft continued accelerating and swing to the right. The Bristol Freighter is well known for its tendency to swing on takeoff. The commander joined the co-pilot on the controls and attempted to assist in correcting the right-hand swing. It became apparent to the pilots that they would be unable to prevent the aircraft running over the edge of the runway and, as there were people standing by the edge and a small control tower building behind them, they applied full up-elevator in an effort to avoid a collision. Because of the low airspeed at which this occurred, the aircraft stalled and the left wing tip hit the ground. This caused the aircraft to turn so that it was then travelling sideways which resulted in the landing gear collapsing as it touched the runway. The aircraft then slid off the runway onto the grass. There was no fire and the only injuries were sustained by three of the aircraft passengers.

Trans-Provincial Airlines - TPA

After touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Safe Air

Upon landing at Blenheim-Woodbourne Airport, the right main gear collapsed. The airplane slid for few dozen yards before coming to rest. All four occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was written off.

Wardair Canada

After takeoff from Hay River, while climbing to a height of 200 feet, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed near the airport. A pilot was killed while the second occupant was seriously injured.

Air Express - Australia

The flight departed from Essendon Airport at 0050LT. At 0122 hours the flight reported to the Melbourne Flight Service Unit (FSU) that it was then at the Westgate reporting point cruising at 3,500 feet, and its estimated time of arrival at the West Bass reporting point was 0159 hours. At 0145:44 hours VH-SJQ advised the Melbourne FSU 'we have an engine failure on the port side, we have it feathered and are returning to Melbourne'. In response to a request from the FSU the flight advised it was able to maintain height 'at the moment'. At 0148:54 VH-SJQ confirmed that 'the port engine has failed and is feathered' and shortly thereafter advised an estimated time of arrival at the Primegate reporting point en route to Essendon Airport. The Uncertainty Phase of the search and rescue procedures was declared by the Melbourne Air Traffic Control Unit (ATC). At 0151:58 hours the flight advised the Melbourne FSU 'we are making a slow descent to one five zero zero' and, in answer to a query, reported 'we're unable to maintain our height with our rated power'. The Alert Phase of the search and rescue procedures was declared by Melbourne ATC, and a Bristol 170 Mark 31 aircraft en route from Launceston to Essendon Airport was diverted to intercept VH-SJQ and act as an escort. At 0157:46 hours VH-SJQ reported 'four eight DME Wonthaggi', and shortly thereafter, reported 'tracking one eight three on the Wonthaggi VOR'. At 0203:00 hours VH-SJQ transmitted a distress call and reported 'we're passed fifteen hundred feet and still going down'. The position of the aircraft at 0203:57 hours was reported as 'on the one eight six radial Wonthaggi and we are three seven DME'. The Distress phase of the search and rescue procedures was declared by Melbourne ATC and a second northbound aircraft was diverted to intercept VH-SJQ. At 0204:32 hours VH-SJQ reported 'we're down to nine hundred feet at the moment'; at 0207:42 hours, 'at six hundred feet at the moment; at 0212:55 hours, 'two two DME'; at 0213:22 hours, altitude was 200 feet; 0214:31 hours, 'we're down to one hundred feet'; and, at 0215:23 hours, 'this is a final MAYDAY call, we are approximately one eight DME and our altimeters registering zero feet'. Melbourne FSU then transmitted a ditching report of moderate seas with a moderate south-westerly swell; this was acknowledged by VH-SJQ. The escort aircraft then heard further transmissions from VH-SJQ which indicated that both altimeters were reading zero; the crew could see the tops of waves; and DME distances of 16, 15 and 14 were transmitted, the latter being the last transmission heard from the aircraft the time being about 0218 hours. Neither of the escort aircraft sighted VH-SJQ. Post analysis of the meteorological information indicates that the weather in the area of the accident was: surface wind from 280 degrees (True) at 15 knots, scattered cumulus cloud base 2,500 feet, scattered stratus cloud base 1,200 feet, patches of sea fog, visibility 40 kilometres reducing to 4,000 metres in rain showers, temperature 12° Celsius. It is probable that the temperatures at 1,500 feet, 2,500 feet, and 3,500 feet were 9.5°, 7° and 5° Celsius respectively. The conditions were not conducive to the formation of airframe or carburettor icing, and search aircraft in the area did not encounter any such icing.

Lambair - Lamb Airways

On final approach to Rankin Inlet, while completing a cargo flight from Thompson, the airplane went out of control and crashed. Both pilots were killed.

Wardair Canada

On final approach to Lutselk'e Airport, the airplane crashed into an icy lake. There were no casualties.

Iraqi Air Force - Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Iraqiya

Crashed on landing somewhere in Iraq. Crew fate remains unknown as well as the exact date of the mishap, somewhere during 1967.

Aer Turas

Upon landing on runway 17 at Dublin Airport, the airplane seemed to be uncontrollable and bounced 3-4 times. The captain decided to abandon the landing, attempted a go around and increased engine power. After takeoff, while climbing to a height of approximately 50 feet, the airplane turned to the left when it stalled and crashed onto a hangar. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed. There were no injuries on the ground.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

While on approach to Marville AFB, the airplane crashed in the Montmédy forest, few km north of the runway 12 threshold. Eight occupants were killed while three others were seriously injured.

British United Air Ferries - BAF

The aircraft was returning to Bournemouth from Guernsey on a passenger and vehicle service flight. The copilot was flying the aircraft from the left-hand seat, and the pilot-in-command was performing the duties of the copilot. The engines were started at 1112 hours GMT. The brakes operated satisfactorily at this time. Following a normal run-up and check of the engines and the throttles were opened slowly because of a 17 kt crosswind component. The aircraft' reached a speed of 50 kt, and the rpm of the port engine began to rise. The pilot-in-command tried to control it by moving back the propeller control lever. The rpm commenced to surge and, as the aircraft's speed was then about 4 kt less than the single-engine safety speed (84 kt), the pilot-in-command ordered the copilot to abandon the takeoff. According to the testimony of the pilot-in-command following the accident, the brakes had little or no effect, and realizing that the aircraft would overrun the runway, he pulled back both propeller pitch control levers in order to stop the engines. Shortly before reaching the end of the runway the aircraft was turned to the left to avoid the approach lights. The aircraft became airborne for about 33 yd, then passed through the boundary fence of the stopway and struck a bank surmounted by a hedge where its port landing gear collapsed. Thereafter it crossed a hedge-lined road, and the starboard landing gear was deflected rearward. Finally it slid about 60 yd on its belly and stopped near a house. The accident occurred at 1123 hours GMT.

Pakistan Air Force - Pakistan Fiza'ya

Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Indus Valley, in the region of Liaqatpur. The crew fate remains unknown.

Manx Airways

On touchdown at Douglas-Ronaldsway Airport, Isle of Man, one of the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sank on runway and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.

Aviaco - Aviacion y Comercio

On touchdown at Valencia Airport, one of the main gear collapsed. The aircraft slid for several before coming to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Pakistan Air Force - Pakistan Fiza'ya

Suffered an accident somewhere in Pakistan during the year 1961 (exact date unknown).

Pacific Aviation

The crew was completing a local training flight at Albion Park Airport, south of Sydney. En route, the crew decided to shut the right engine down but was unable to feather its propeller. The airplane lost height and the crew attempted an emergency landing when the airplane struck trees and crashed. All four occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Silver City Airways

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.

Aviaco - Aviacion y Comercio

Crash landed at Ibiza Airport for unknown reason. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Pakistan Air Force - Pakistan Fiza'ya

Suffered a landing accident somewhere in Pakistan during November 1959 (exact date unknown). There were no casualties.

Pakistan Air Force - Pakistan Fiza'ya

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Pakistan during November 1959 (exact date unknown).

Aviaco - Aviacion y Comercio

On final approach to Mahon Airport, at an altitude of 120 meters, the crew deployed the flaps when the airplane banked right and crashed 500 meters short of runway threshold. The airplane was totally destroyed and a passenger was killed while 17 other occupants were injured.

Pakistan Air Force - Pakistan Fiza'ya

Shortly after takeoff from Chaklala AFB, while in initial climb, the airplane stalled and crashed in flames, killing all seven occupants.

Compagnie Air Transport - CAT

On final approach to Le Touquet Airport, the aircraft was too low and struck a beacon. The crew continued the approach and upon touchdown, the undercarriage failed. The airplane sank on its belly and came to rest, damaged beyond repair. The crew were uninjured.

Saudi Arabian Airlines - SAUDIA

Upon landing, an undercarriage collapsed. The airplane skidded for several yards and came to a halt. There were no casualties but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Silver City Airways

The aircraft, operated by Manx Airlines Ltd, took off at 0915LT from Ronaldsway Airport, Isle of Man, on a flight to Ringway Airport, Manchester. It carried 39 passengers and a crew of 3. At approximately 0945LT the aircraft crashed near the summit of Winter Hill, killing 35 of the 42 persons aboard. All five crew members survived but were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact.

Straits Air Freight Express

The flight was a routine cargo flight from Woodbourne to Timaru via Paraparaumu. After take-off the aircraft was climbed to 2 500 ft on instruments and a period of asymmetric instrument flying followed during which the starboard pro- peller was feathered and rate half turns were made in both directions. The starboard propeller was unfeathered and when the minimum operating temperatures had been reached, normal power was applied. Two minutes later a sudden and severe vibration was felt throughout the aircraft. Feathering of the port engine was delayed until nearer the North Island coastline, and no further vibration was felt on the remainder of the flight to Paraparaumu. The aircraft was then loaded and one crew member was off-loaded prior to take-off on the second segment of the flight to Timaru. At 1127 hours the flight called Harewood Tower giving its position as 6 miles north of the Wairnakariri River mouth at 3 000 ft contact. It was subsequently cleared to maintain 3 000 ft to the Harewood Range Station. It then advised that it would descend VFR from the Range Station and proceed VFR to Timaru and was subsequently cleared for this procedure by Harewood Tower. At 1133 hours, at an approximate height of 2 000 ft, the aircraft was seen to suffer structural failure in the air. The starboard outer wing folded upwards and backwards and then separated. The remainder of the aircraft performed a series of violent manoeuvres while diving towards the ground at a mean angle of 35°' shedding a number of major components before finally striking the ground 1 000 yards beyond the point of wing separation. The 2 crew and 2 passengers aboard were killed, and the aircraft was destroyed.

Saudi Arabian Airlines - SAUDIA

After touchdown at Tarif Airport, the airplane encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. There were no injuries but the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Aviaco - Aviacion y Comercio

For undetermined reason, the aircraft landed hard at Tétouan Airport and came to a halt. There were no injuries but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Aviaco - Aviacion y Comercio

The aircraft was on a scheduled passenger transport flight from Santiago de Compostela to Madrid, carrying 32 passengers and 5 crew. As requested, the flight passed downwind to align itself for landing on the assigned runway 23 during which maneuver the control tower gave it the green light for landing. The aircraft went by at an altitude of about 300 metres, banking slightly to the left in order to see the light signal more easily. At 1904 hours it saw the green light, compensated for its left bank and, banking to the right, started a right spin which continued to the ground. The aircraft hit the ground with the front part of the fuselage, the right wing and the right engine propeller and caught fire. Although the airport fire fighting services reached the aircraft 6 minutes after the accident and promptly went into action, it was impossible to extinguish fire completely for more an hour. Its effects, however, were reduced to such an extent that the crew and passengers could have been saved had they not all died as a consequence of the violent impact.

Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF

While flying at an altitude of 4,000 feet on a supply mission, the airplane hit trees and crashed in a dense wooded area. The aircraft was destroyed and eight occupants were killed. As the airplane failed to return to its base, SAR operations were conducted and the wreckage was spotted in the afternoon. Rescuers were dropped off about 2,000 yards from the crash site but poor weather conditions hampered attempts to reach the wreckage which was eventually reached after three days only. The survivor walked away and was found alive twelve days later.

Air Laos

An engine failed on final approach to Vientiane-Wattay Airport. The pilot-in-command attempted a go around when the airplane stalled and crashed on the runway.

Transair Canada

The crew was unloading the aircraft when both main gears went through the ice. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned.

Pacific Western Airlines - PWA

After landing on the Beaverlodge Lake, the crew started to brake when the left main gear went through the ice, causing the left wing to struck the ground and to be bent. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft was abandoned as its was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Maritime Central Airways

Shortly after takeoff from Frobisher Bay Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft went into a nose-up attitude, stalled and crashed into the sea. All three crew members who were performing a cargo flight were killed.

Pakistan Air Force - Pakistan Fiza'ya

Suffered an accident somewhere in Pakistan during the year 1955 (exact date remains unknown). Crew fate unknown as well.

Royal Canadian Air Force - RCAF

The aircraft left Grostenquin Airbase at 1100LT bound for London with an intermediate stop at Marville AFB. During a GCA approach to runway 12, the crew encountered foggy conditions and the airplane hit trees and crashed in the Montmédy forest located less than five km north of the airfield. Seven passengers were killed while seven other occupants were killed.

Pakistan Air Force - Pakistan Fiza'ya

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Pakistan. The crew fate remains unknown.

West African Airways Corporation

While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a dense wooded and uninhabited area located about 84 km northwest of Calabar. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all 13 occupants were killed.

Air Vietnam

The aircraft was performing a special flight from Hanoi to Saigon, carrying refugees leaving the Red River. In-flight, the crew informed ATC about an engine failure and received the permission to divert to Pakse for an emergency landing. The airplane lost height and eventually crashed on the bank of the Sedone River, a tributary of the Mekong River. Three crew members and five passengers were seriously injured while 47 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed upon impact.

Aviaco - Aviacion y Comercio

While descending to Madrid-Barajas Airport inbound from Bilbao, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with clouds, rains showers and turbulences. Twice, the airplane suffered downdrafts and the second time, it lost 800 meters in few seconds and eventually hit the slope of the peak Lobo-Cebollera located east of Somosierra. A crew member was able to find help and rescuers arrived quite quickly on site. Ten people, including 4 crew members, were injured while 23 other occupants were killed.

Royal Australian Air Force - RAAF

While on an IFR training flight from Mallala by day in clear weather, the port mainplane parted from the fuselage. The aircraft crashed into a wheat field 2 miles from the RAAF Station. The three crew members were killed. The crash set the wheat field ablaze and the RAAF Mallala fire crews had to extinguish the the field fire to reach the crash site. The port wing was found 1.5 miles away. Crew: F/Lt J. D. Entwhistle, F/O Leonard Murphy F/O Donald Shillinglaw. Source: http://www.goodall.com.au

Royal New Zealand Air Force - RNZAF

Shortly after takeoff from runway 06 at Woodbourne AFB in Blenheim, while climbing, the pilot-in-command made a turn to right when the aircraft entered clouds. Six minutes later, the twin engine airplane hit the slope of a mountain located near Taylor Pass, about 12 km southeast of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew members were killed. Crew: Cpt Richard Webb, F/Lt James Brookes, F/Sgt Phillip Diebert, Sgt John Collins, Sgt Thomas Dean.

Silver City Airways

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Northolt to Berlin-Tempelhof and the approach was completed in low visibility due to foggy conditions. On final, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed on a railway road located few hundred yards from runway 09R threshold. Both pilots were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed.

Pakistan Air Force - Pakistan Fiza'ya

Crashed in unknown circumstances few minutes after takeoff from Lahore Airport, killing both crew members.

Pakistan Air Force - Pakistan Fiza'ya

On a flight from Lahore to Peshawar, the aircraft suffered an engine failure, went out of control and crashed near the city of Khewra. All 18 occupants were killed.

Argentinian Air Force - Fuerza Aérea Argentina

The crew was engaged in a night training mission at Morón AFB. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed 2 km past the runway end. All four crew members were killed. Crew: 1st Lt Carlos Enrique Rodriguez, 1st Lt Jose Ricardo Vidal, Adj Aladino Jacinto Sandrini, Maj Hermes Petrini.

Pakistan Air Force - Pakistan Fiza'ya

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Pakistan. Occupant fate remains unknown.

West African Airways Corporation

While approaching Ibadan, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to return to Kaduna. On final approach, both engines stopped and the pilot-in-command attempted a belly landing 3 km short of runway threshold. The aircraft came to rest and was damaged beyond repair while all occupants were evacuated safely.

Compagnie Air Transport - CAT

The aircraft left Aoulef Airfield at 0245LT bound for Bidon V. During the next 15 to 30 minutes, the crew maintained few radio contacts with the ground and eventually, the contact was lost around 0300LT. SAR operations were conducted and the crew of a GLAM Douglas DC-4 found the wreckage about 30 hours later, around 1815LT some 50 km west of the trail leading from Reggan to Bidon V. The debris were scattered on more than 2 km about 106 km southwest of Aoulef and all 26 occupants have been killed. Most of the passengers were locals from Bamako flying back home for vacations after studying in France. It is believed that an explosion occurred in the left wing in flight, most probably in the fuel tank, causing the left wing to detach. In such conditions, the aircraft was uncontrollable. The exact cause of the detonation remains unknown. Crew: Cpt Le Monigou 3.

Bristol Aeroplane Company

The aircraft was an MK.2 version and was recently converted to a 21 version. This flight was the second test one for the certification program. About 34 minutes after it left Bristol-Filton Airport, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Cowbridge, south of Wales. All four occupants (three Bristol's engineers and one pilot) were killed.