Incident Overview
Date: Friday 7 January 1949
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-54G-5-DO (DC-4)
Owner/operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration Number: 45-543
Location: near Garstang –
ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
Component Affected: Radio compassRadio compass
Category: Accident
A Douglas Skymaster 45-543 experienced interference from a commercial radio station near Burtonwood, resulting in the radio compass indicating a Northward position despite passing the Range Station. The aircraft successfully executed a VFR approach to Burtonwood.A Douglas Skymaster 45-543 experienced interference from a commercial radio station near Burtonwood, resulting in the radio compass indicating a Northward position despite passing the Range Station. The aircraft successfully executed a VFR approach to Burtonwood.
Description
Douglas Skymaster 45-543 was participating in the Berlin Airlift. To undergo its 200 hour maintenance inspection, the airplane was to be ferried to Burtonwood (BUT). The aircraft took taken off at 13:12 from Rhein-Main AFB (FRF). The flight was uneventful and the pilot was cleared to make a VFR approach to Burtonwood. The airplane descended through the cloud and flew into the face of Stake House Fell. Investigation revealed that a strong signal from commercial radio station North of the Burtonwood base was interfering with the Burtonwood Range signal, causing the radio compass on board aircraft to continue to indicate that the base was to their North even after they had passed to the North of the Range Station.
Source of Information
http://laituk.org/C-54%2045-543.htmhttp://laituk.org/C-54%2045-543.htmPrimary Cause
Commercial radio interference disrupting the Burtonwood Range signal.Commercial radio interference disrupting the Burtonwood Range signal.Share on:
