Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 27 March 1963
Aircraft Type: Vickers 668 Varsity T.1
Owner/operator: Smiths Aviation, lsf Royal Air Force – RAF
Registration Number: G-APAZ
Location: near Staverton Airport (GLO) – ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Aircraft Engine System (specifically, the engine selection switch)Aircraft Engine System (specifically, the engine selection switch)
Category: Accident
A G-APAZ aircraft, leased from the Royal Air Force, experienced a crash-landing following a check flight near the airport. The pilot reported engine failure and a complete loss of power due to a misconfiguration of the engine selection switch. The aircraft struck a house on Tuffley Avenue.A G-APAZ aircraft, leased from the Royal Air Force, experienced a crash-landing following a check flight near the airport. The pilot reported engine failure and a complete loss of power due to a misconfiguration of the engine selection switch. The aircraft struck a house on Tuffley Avenue.

Description

Varsity G-APAZ was being used to conduct a check flight for the pilot, who wanted to be approved as a Varsity test pilot. A single engine runway 22 approach and overshoot were carried out. At 3 or 4 miles from the airport, at a height of 600-700 feet, the aircraft banked to the right and the pilot reported a total engine failure. G-APAZ lost height and crashed into a house on Tuffley Avenue. The aircraft was leased from the Royal Air Force 1 ANS and also carried the military serial WF415. PROBABLE CAUSE: “Selection of the starboard engine “idle-cut-off” switch to CUT-OFF instead of the port to the RUN position, when attempting to re-start the port engine, resulted in a complete loss of power at a low height and the aircraft struck a house in the ensuing crash-landing.”

Primary Cause

Selection of the starboard engine ‘idle-cut-off’ switch to CUT-OFF instead of the port to the RUN position, when attempting to re-start the port engine, resulted in a complete loss of power at a low height and the aircraft struck a house in the ensuing crash-landing.Selection of the starboard engine ‘idle-cut-off’ switch to CUT-OFF instead of the port to the RUN position, when attempting to re-start the port engine, resulted in a complete loss of power at a low height and the aircraft struck a house in the ensuing crash-landing.

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