Status:	Final
Date:	15 NOV 1957
Time:	22:55
Type:	Shorts S.45 Solent 3
Operator:	Aquila Airways
Registration:	G-AKNU
C/n / msn:	S.1299
First flight:
Crew:	Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8
Passengers:	Fatalities: 37 / Occupants: 50
Total:	Fatalities: 45 / Occupants: 58
Airplane damage:	Written off
Airplane fate:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	Chessel Down (United Kingdom)
Phase:	Unknown (UNK)
Nature:	International Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:	Southampton water, United Kingdom
Destination airport:	Lisboa-Portela de Sacavém Airport (LIS/LPPT), Portugal

Narrative:
The Aquila Airways Solent flying boat departed Southampton at 22:46 for a flight to Lisbon and Madeira. At 22:54 the crew radioed that the number 4 propeller had been feathered. While trying to return, the Solent crashed into the face of a quarry between Chessel and Brook. At impact the aircraft was banked 45 degrees to the right.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accident was caused by the stoppage of the No.3 engine at a time when the No.4 engine was stopped. The cause of the stoppage of the No.4 engine is unknown. The cause of the stoppage of the No.3 engine was either an electrical failure in the fuel cut-off actuator circuit or the accidental operation of the cut-off switch."

Sources: