Incident Overview

Date: Monday 28 April 1958
Aircraft Type: Vickers 802 Viscount
Owner/operator: British European Airways – BEA
Registration Number: G-AORC
Location: Craigie – ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Unknown
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5
Component Affected: AircraftAircraft
Category: Accident
A Viscount aircraft, during a positioning flight to Prestwick, Scotland, experienced a sudden and catastrophic ground impact near the radio beacon. The aircraft descended rapidly, resulting in a skid and subsequent fire. The incident was attributed to a misreading of the altimeter by the captain, compounded by insufficient communication and alertness among the crew.A Viscount aircraft, during a positioning flight to Prestwick, Scotland, experienced a sudden and catastrophic ground impact near the radio beacon. The aircraft descended rapidly, resulting in a skid and subsequent fire. The incident was attributed to a misreading of the altimeter by the captain, compounded by insufficient communication and alertness among the crew.

Description

The Viscount took off from London at 20:42 for a positioning flight to Prestwick. Nearing Prestwick, a descent from FL185 was commenced The aircraft was cleared to pass the Prestwick radio beacon at 4000 feet. Shortly after the crew reported descending through 11000 feet, the aircraft struck the ground close to the Prestwick beacon. The plane skidded for about 400 m and caught fire. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The accident was caused by the captain flying the aircraft into the ground during the descent to Prestwick after misreading the altimeter by 10000ft. Whilst a somewhat ambiguous presentation of height on the pressure altimeter may have initiated this misreading, a lack of co-operation between the captain and first officer and a lack of alertness on the part of the first officer were the main contributory factors.”

Primary Cause

Misreading of the altimeter by the captain during descent to Prestwick.Misreading of the altimeter by the captain during descent to Prestwick.

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