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Burnt Oak, Edgware, near RAF Hendon, Middlesex -
United Kingdom
Phase:
Approach
Nature:
Military
Departure airport:
RAF Hendon, Colindale, Middlesex
Destination airport:
RAF Hendon, Colindale, Middlesex
Narrative: Avro Anson C. XIX TX168, Metropolitan Communications Squadron, RAF: Written off (destroyed) when crashed 9 February 1948. The Anson was involved in a crew training sortie, as part of this, the aircraft made an asymmetric (single engine) approach to RAF Hendon, Colindale, Middlesex on the starboard engine only.
By the mid-1940s, RAF Hendon was surrounded by housing developments on three sides, and there was a raised railway embankment on the fourth side.
At 300 feet into the final approach, the pilot decided to overshoot the approach to RAF Hendon, as a Percival Proctor aircraft was occupying the runway that was in use.
An attempt was made to restart (unfeather) the port engine, but the aircraft continued to lose altitude, and the Anson crashed into buildings at Burnt Oak, Edgeware, and a passing trolleybus, approximately 1,300 yards short of RAF Hendon. Both of the crew of the Anson were killed, and eight passengers on the trolleybus were severely injured
Probable cause: It appears that the crew completed the final approach with an engine voluntarily inoperative. (Possibly practising a single engine approach). Due to an insufficient approach airspeed, the aircraft stalled and crashed. Following this accident, training flights with engine shut down were prohibited at RAF Hendon and were operated at RAF Bassingbourn instead.