Status:	Final
Date:	31 JUL 1979
Time:	16:01
Type:	Avro 748-105 Srs. 1
Operator:	Dan-Air Services
Registration:	G-BEKF
C/n / msn:	1542
First flight:	1962
Total airframe hrs:	29007
Engines:	2 Rolls Royce 514 Dart
Crew:	Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 3
Passengers:	Fatalities: 15 / Occupants: 44
Total:	Fatalities: 17 / Occupants: 47
Airplane damage:	Written off
Airplane fate:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Location:	Shetland Islands-Sumburgh Airport (LSI) (United Kingdom)
Phase:	Takeoff (TOF)
Nature:	Domestic Non Scheduled Passenger
Departure airport:	Sumburgh Airport, Shetland Islands (LSI/EGPB), United Kingdom
Destination airport:	Aberdeen-Dyce Airport (ABZ/EGPD), United Kingdom

Narrative:
The HS-748 failed to become airborne and crashed into the sea 50m offshore. The takeoff runway (09-27) had a length of 3555 feet.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "It was concluded that the accident was caused by the locked condition of the elevators which prevented the rotation of the aircraft into a flying attitude. It is likely that the elevator gust-lock became re-engaged during the pilot's pre-take-off check, and that this condition was not apparent to either pilot until the take-off was so far advanced that a successful abandonment within the overrun area could not be reasonably have been made. The re-engagement of the gust-lock was made possible by the condition of the gust-lock lever gate plate and gate-stop strip."

Events:

Sources:
» Flight International 25.07.1981 (216-217)