ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 58286
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| Date: | Saturday 25 May 1957 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Hawker Hunter F Mk 4 |
| Owner/operator: | 74 (Tiger) Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | XE661 |
| MSN: | HABL003004 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | RAF Horsham St. Faith, Norwich, Norfolk, England -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Horsham St. Faith, Norfolk |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
While taking part in Exercise "Vigilant" and during take off from Horsham St Faith, Norfolk, the controls of Hunter F4 XE661 reverted to manual. The pilot attempted to stop but it overran the runway.
Per eyewitness reports; "... on 25th May 1957 at RAF Horsham St Faith, Javelin Mk4 XA732, when taxiing, had a fuel tank attachment fail causing the tank to drag on the ground. As the Javelin’s favourite habit was catching fire, this one also kept to the script and wrote itself off; thus the ATC call.
Two Hunter Mk4 aircraft of 74 Squadron reacted to the ATC call; both aircraft were written off but no one died. XE661 abandoned take off, overshot the runway and went through a hedge into a field. XE662 was in the circuit and the pilot tried to set it down pronto but made a mess of it (probably not helped by the undoubted Chinese Writing in his underpants!). He bounced hard, the seat fired (injuring his arm) and the Hunter (now without its driver) finished its career demolishing the wall of an airmans’ block."
Per the Air Ministry Form.78 (Aircraft record card), the damaged Hunter F4 XE661 was initially assessed as Cat.4 (Repairable), and removed three days after its accident (28/5/1957) by - and to - 58 MU RAF Honington for repairs. Later moved to Hawker Aircraft Ltd at Dunsfold, Surrey for repairs. In the event repairs were cancelled - the damage to the airframe was deemed to be "beyond economical repair" - and XE661 was struck off charge on 4/1/1959 as Cat5(scrap) and scrapped at Dunsfold
Sources:
www.ukserials.com/losses-1957.htm
http://www.ejectorseats.co.uk/multiple_eject.html
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 10-Jan-2009 11:55 | ASN archive | Added |
| 15-Mar-2012 22:49 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 16-Aug-2012 08:39 | Nepa | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location] |
| 17-Oct-2014 12:46 | bjack4 | Updated [Aircraft type, Narrative] |
| 18-Jul-2021 09:23 | Anon. | Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Operator] |
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