Incident Overview
Date: Friday 6 May 1949
Aircraft Type: Bristol 170 Freighter 31
Owner/operator: Bristol Aeroplane Company
Registration Number: G-AIFF
Location: 26 km off Portland Lighthouse –
ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7
Component Affected: AirframeAirframe
Category: Accident
A Bristol 170 aircraft crashed into the sea during testing near Filton, England, following a submarine commander’s observation of the aircraft. A large wing component was observed fluttering down, suggesting a structural failure.A Bristol 170 aircraft crashed into the sea during testing near Filton, England, following a submarine commander’s observation of the aircraft. A large wing component was observed fluttering down, suggesting a structural failure.
Description
The Bristol 170 aircraft was operated by the Bristol company to perform some tests to obtain engine and propeller data under specific climbing conditions. The aircraft departed Filton at 10:03. At 11:10 the commander of a surfaced submarine saw the aircraft crash into the sea. A large object, thought to be part of the wing was seen fluttering down separately. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The accident was the result of a structural failure in the air, the cause of which is unknown.”
Primary Cause
Structural failure in the airStructural failure in the airShare on:
