Incident Overview

Date: Saturday 25 January 1947
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-85-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Spencer Airways
Registration Number: VP-YFD
Location: London-Croydon Airport – ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 23
Component Affected: C-47 aircraft lifting surfaces (specifically the wings and tail)C-47 aircraft lifting surfaces (specifically the wings and tail)
Category: Accident
A C-47 aircraft, shortly after takeoff, experienced a collision with a CSA Douglas C-47. The aircraft rolled and banked sharply, resulting in a head-on collision. The pilot’s loss of control, exacerbated by poor visibility and a heavily loaded aircraft in a semi-stalled condition, is suspected as the primary cause.A C-47 aircraft, shortly after takeoff, experienced a collision with a CSA Douglas C-47. The aircraft rolled and banked sharply, resulting in a head-on collision. The pilot’s loss of control, exacerbated by poor visibility and a heavily loaded aircraft in a semi-stalled condition, is suspected as the primary cause.

Description

The C-47 had just become airborne when it rolled right and left. The bank angle increased to 40 deg as the C-47 continued in a left turn at low altitude. Level attitude was regained near the airport boundary. The aircraft then swung to the right, bounced and collided head-on with a CSA Douglas C-47 (OK-WDB). The registration was reportedly mispainted on the aircraft as VP-YFE. PROBABLE CAUSE: “Loss of control by the Captain, who, when attempting to take-off a heavily loaded aircraft in poor visibility allowed it to become airborne in a semi-stalled condition. This must be attributed to an error of flying technique by a pilot who lacked Dakota experience. The possibility that the following were contributory causes cannot be dismissed: 1) The adhesion of some snow and/or frost to the lifting surfaces; 2) The impairment of the pilot’s judgement through fatigue.”

Primary Cause

Loss of control by the Captain, resulting from a pilot’s error in taking-off a heavily loaded aircraft in poor visibility, leading to a semi-stalled condition and subsequent loss of control.Loss of control by the Captain, resulting from a pilot’s error in taking-off a heavily loaded aircraft in poor visibility, leading to a semi-stalled condition and subsequent loss of control.

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