Accident description
Last updated: 25 May 2013
| Status: | Final |
| Date: | 14 MAR 1957 |
| Time: | 13:46 |
| Type: | Vickers 701 Viscount |
| Operator: | British European Airways - BEA |
| Registration: | G-ALWE |
| C/n / 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 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (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 contiued the approach visually. The approach was uneventful until the 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 85yards 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." Events:
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest No.9, Circular 56-AN/51 (76-87)
Follow-up / safety actions
The following recommendations were issued: "
a) that reliance on a single bolt in tension for the support of a primary structure should be avoided if possible.; b) that where such bolts are used an ample margin of strength should be allowed (having regard to the material of which the bolt is made) so as to ensure that fatigue will not develop at any time in the life of the bolt; c) that where such bolts are used the seating of the bolt and nut should be carefully checked."
a) that reliance on a single bolt in tension for the support of a primary structure should be avoided if possible.; b) that where such bolts are used an ample margin of strength should be allowed (having regard to the material of which the bolt is made) so as to ensure that fatigue will not develop at any time in the life of the bolt; c) that where such bolts are used the seating of the bolt and nut should be carefully checked."
Photos
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).
Distance from Amsterdam-Schiphol International Airport to Manchester-Ringway Airport as the crow flies is 483 km (302 miles).
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Vickers Viscount
United Kingdom- 14th worst accident (at the time)
- 27th worst accident (currently)