Narrative:
The Viscount was being used on a pilot conversion training flight. The pilots commenced a three-engine takeoff from Mangalore Airport, Australia. After running some 2000 feet, the aircraft swung off the runway to the right, became airborne and continued in a steeper turn to the right. This continued until the right hand wing tip struck the ground 2300 feet west of runway 22. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire.
It was established that two non-surviving pilots may have survived if they had been wearing the a shoulder harness.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "An error of judgement on the part of the pilot-in-command in that he took the aircraft into the air at a speed below the minimum control speed, following loss of directional control during the ground run. Some difficulty in maintaining directional control had been experienced during the takeoff run with the final loss probably occurred through nose wheel steering being relinquished as the pilot-in-command took over the controls. A factor probably contributing to this accident was the limited experience of the pilot-in-command on this type of aircraft."
Loss of control
accident date: 31-10-1954
type: Vickers 720 Viscount
registration: VH-TVA
accident date: 31-10-1954
type: Vickers 720 Viscount
registration: VH-TVA
accident sequence sketch
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 31 October 1954 |
| Time: | 15:07 |
| Type: |  Vickers 720 Viscount |
| Operator: | Trans Australia Airlines - TAA |
| Registration: | VH-TVA |
| MSN: | 44 |
| First flight: | 1954-08-29 (2 months) |
| Total airframe hrs: | 154 |
| Engines: | 4 Rolls-Royce Dart 505 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 6 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 8 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Mangalore Airport, VIC ( Australia)
|
| Phase: | Takeoff (TOF) |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Mangalore Airport, VIC (YMNG), Australia |
| Mangalore Airport, VIC (YMNG), Australia |
The Viscount was being used on a pilot conversion training flight. The pilots commenced a three-engine takeoff from Mangalore Airport, Australia. After running some 2000 feet, the aircraft swung off the runway to the right, became airborne and continued in a steeper turn to the right. This continued until the right hand wing tip struck the ground 2300 feet west of runway 22. The aircraft was destroyed by impact and fire.
It was established that two non-surviving pilots may have survived if they had been wearing the a shoulder harness.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "An error of judgement on the part of the pilot-in-command in that he took the aircraft into the air at a speed below the minimum control speed, following loss of directional control during the ground run. Some difficulty in maintaining directional control had been experienced during the takeoff run with the final loss probably occurred through nose wheel steering being relinquished as the pilot-in-command took over the controls. A factor probably contributing to this accident was the limited experience of the pilot-in-command on this type of aircraft."
Classification:
Flight with 1 engine inoperativeLoss of control
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest, Circular 47-AN/42 (162-169)Photos
accident date: 31-10-1954
type: Vickers 720 Viscount
registration: VH-TVA
accident date: 31-10-1954
type: Vickers 720 Viscount
registration: VH-TVA
accident sequence sketch
Map
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.
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