Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 9 January 1975
Aircraft Type: Douglas VC-47A (DC-3)
Owner/operator: United States Air Force – USAF
Registration Number: 43-15527
Location: Akrotiri RAF Station (AKT) –
ÿ Cyprus
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: / Occupants:
Component Affected: Left wing and right wing tip.Left wing and right wing tip.
Category: UK
An aircraft experienced a catastrophic landing due to severe wind conditions, resulting in significant damage to the left wing and right wing tip. The strong southerly winds, exceeding 45 knots, caused the aircraft to pivot and subsequently land near the northern airfield boundary. The incident occurred despite the absence of diversion airfields due to the Turkish invasion of Northern Cyprus.An aircraft experienced a catastrophic landing due to severe wind conditions, resulting in significant damage to the left wing and right wing tip. The strong southerly winds, exceeding 45 knots, caused the aircraft to pivot and subsequently land near the northern airfield boundary. The incident occurred despite the absence of diversion airfields due to the Turkish invasion of Northern Cyprus.
Description
Damaged beyond repair at Akrotiri RAF Station, Cyprus. Landing on the Westerly runway in a strong Southerly wind – gusts reported well over 45 knots – the left wing lifted and the right wing tip touched the ground. This pivoted the aircraft round and it departed the runway to the right, eventually coming to rest close to the Northern airfield boundary. The wind had been increasing all afternoon and was well above the forecast winds. After the Turkish invasion of Northern Cyprus there were no diversion airfields available.
Primary Cause
Severe and unpredictable wind conditions, specifically strong southerly winds exceeding 45 knots, significantly impacted aircraft stability and control.Severe and unpredictable wind conditions, specifically strong southerly winds exceeding 45 knots, significantly impacted aircraft stability and control.Share on:
