Incident Overview

Date: Tuesday 6 October 1964
Aircraft Type: Vickers 951 Vanguard
Owner/operator: British European Airways – BEA
Registration Number: G-APEE
Location: Glasgow-Renfrew Airport – ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 95
Component Affected: NosewheelsNosewheels
Category: Accident
A flight from London to Glasgow’s Renfrew Airport experienced a significant landing incident. Initial visual reference established at 1000ft, the aircraft transitioned to a VASI glide path and landed on the runway with moderate to heavy rain. A series of impacts with the runway resulted in nosewheel collapse, subsequent lowering, reverse thrust application, and final stopping. The incident began during a turn preparing for a back-trakking maneuver.A flight from London to Glasgow’s Renfrew Airport experienced a significant landing incident. Initial visual reference established at 1000ft, the aircraft transitioned to a VASI glide path and landed on the runway with moderate to heavy rain. A series of impacts with the runway resulted in nosewheel collapse, subsequent lowering, reverse thrust application, and final stopping. The incident began during a turn preparing for a back-trakking maneuver.

Description

After a flight from London the night approach to Glasgow’s Renfrew Airport was normal. When full visual reference was obtained at about 1,000 ft, the captain took over the controls and at 800 ft the aircraft was well established on the VASI glide path. There was moderate to heavy rain, and the windscreen wipers and landing lights were on and working satisfactorily. Just as power was about to be reduced for the landing, the aircraft struck the runway in a level, or slightly nosewheel first, attitude, and bounced into the air again. Power was left on, and attempts were made to maintain a level attitude but the aircraft twice more struck the runway heavily, nosewheel first, before landing on the main undercarriage. The nosewheels were then lowered to the ground and, after the application of reverse thrust and light braking, the aircraft stopped at the end of the runway. During a turn, preparatory to back-tracking along the runway, the nosewheel collapsed.

Primary Cause

Loss of control due to combined factors including reduced power, excessive rain, and a collapse of the nosewheel during a turn.Loss of control due to combined factors including reduced power, excessive rain, and a collapse of the nosewheel during a turn.

Share on:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *