Narrative:
Viscount G-ALWE (the first Viscount 701 type to be manufactured) approached Manchester-Ringway Airport following a flight from Amsterdam. After a GCA (Ground Control Approach) approach, the aircraft broke through the lowest clouds and the crew continued the approach visually. The approach was uneventful until it was about 1 mile short of the runway. The aircraft was seen to enter a shallow right descending turn with a steepening bank angle. The right wingtip touched the ground and the aircraft crashed into houses 85 yards further on. It appeared that the aileron became locked when the no. 2 flap unit of the starboard wing moved away from the trailing edge member following failure of a lug and bolt of the flap fitting.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The fracture, due to fatigue, of he 9/16 inch bolt holding the bottom of the No2 starboard flap unit."
Loss of control
accident date: 14-03-1957
type: Vickers 701 Viscount
registration: G-ALWE
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 14 March 1957 |
| Time: | 13:46 |
| Type: |  Vickers 701 Viscount |
| Operator: | British European Airways - BEA |
| Registration: | G-ALWE |
| MSN: | 4 |
| First flight: | 1952 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 6902 |
| Cycles: | 4553 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 15 / Occupants: 15 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 20 / Occupants: 20 |
| Ground casualties: | Fatalities: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Wythenshawe ( United Kingdom)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport (AMS/EHAM), Netherlands |
| Manchester-Ringway Airport (MAN/EGCC), United Kingdom | |
| Flightnumber: | 411 |
Viscount G-ALWE (the first Viscount 701 type to be manufactured) approached Manchester-Ringway Airport following a flight from Amsterdam. After a GCA (Ground Control Approach) approach, the aircraft broke through the lowest clouds and the crew continued the approach visually. The approach was uneventful until it was about 1 mile short of the runway. The aircraft was seen to enter a shallow right descending turn with a steepening bank angle. The right wingtip touched the ground and the aircraft crashed into houses 85 yards further on. It appeared that the aileron became locked when the no. 2 flap unit of the starboard wing moved away from the trailing edge member following failure of a lug and bolt of the flap fitting.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The fracture, due to fatigue, of he 9/16 inch bolt holding the bottom of the No2 starboard flap unit."
Classification:
Issue with flap(s)Loss of control
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest No.9, Circular 56-AN/51 (76-87)Follow-up / safety actions
AIB issued 3 Safety Recommendations
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Photos
accident date: 14-03-1957
type: Vickers 701 Viscount
registration: G-ALWE
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport to Manchester-Ringway Airport as the crow flies is 483 km (302 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport to Manchester-Ringway Airport as the crow flies is 483 km (302 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
languages: 
United Kingdom
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Vickers Viscount
- 445 built
- 7th loss
- 3rd fatal accident
- The worst accident (at the time)
- 33rd worst accident (currently)
United Kingdom- 14th worst accident (at the time)
- 27th worst accident (currently)
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