ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 137469
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Thursday 9 June 1966 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Blackburn Buccaneer S.2A |
| Owner/operator: | 801 Sqn FAA RN |
| Registration: | XN979 |
| MSN: | B3-06-63 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | off HMS Victorious, near The Lizard, Cornwall -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | HMS Victorious, off Cornwall |
Aircraft pitched up on take-off, and stalled, due to a catapult launch whilst the aircraft was carrying a combination of under wing stores that has not been tested. This caused the aircraft's Centre of Gravity to shift during launch. Crashed into the sea near the Lizard, Cornwall.
Crew named as Lt. A. R. Gamley (pilot) and Lt. H. P. Elliss (navigator). Both ejected safely, and were recovered to the carrier by the HMS Victorious SAR Helicopter
Andecdote: "XN979 crashed when the pilot remained 'Hands Off' during catapult launch. It was common practice to ignore the launch procedure when the aircraft was fitted with empty slipper tanks, but on this occasion the pilot adopted the Standard Operating Procedure. Boscombe Down did not believe that empty slipper tanks contributed to the accident and Johnny Eagles came out to the HMS Victorious to disprove the theory that the C of G moved aft under this configuration. The result was that he also landed in the drink after ejecting through the canopy as the aircraft stalled on launch. I do recollect an ironic round of applause from squadron maintainers as the pilot was carried from the Plane Guard to the Sickbay"
Wreckage of XN979 was later recovered from 300 feet of water by the Royal Navy vessels HMS Reclaim and HMS Pintail. Nose section sent to the Cranfield Institute of Technology at Cranfield for use as a teaching aid.
Sources:
1. http://web.archive.org/web/20170721225135/http://www.ejection-history.org.uk:80/Aircraft_by_Type/Buccaneer.htm
2. [LINK NOT WORKING ANYMORE:http://www.blackburn-buccaneer.co.uk/S2_XN979_files/0_S2_XN979.htm]
3. http://www.ukserials.com/losses-1975.htm
4. http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/buccaneer/survivor.php?id=936
5. http://rafmuseum-1.titaninternet.co.uk/research/documents/Journal%2039.pdf
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 17-Jul-2011 23:37 | Dr.John Smith | Added |
| 23-Jan-2012 15:30 | Nepa | Updated [Operator, Source, Narrative] |
| 05-Feb-2013 14:49 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Embed code, Narrative] |
| 02-Jul-2013 22:38 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Departure airport, Source] |
| 09-Jul-2015 04:59 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Embed code] |
| 29-Sep-2023 13:42 | Anon. | Updated [[Embed code]] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation