Incident Overview
Description
Vickers Varsity WJ914 was on an inspection visit at RAF Oakington and had high ranking RAF Officers on board. While on a crosswind course at 1500 ft, an RAF de Havilland DH-100 Vampire T.11 (XD549) approached. The Vampire had just taken off from Oakington on an instruction flight with Pilot Officer Jarvis J Ball at the controls together with his instructor. This aircraft had amber screens with PO Ball wearing blue goggles. The Vampire made a climbing turn to the left and came up beneath the port wing of the Varsity whose pilot was seemingly unaware of its approach. The starboard wing of the Vampire prevented the instructor from seeing the Varsity. The Vampire sheared the port wing off and turned onto its back in a half roll to the left. The Varsity crew also lost control and both aircraft crashed near RAF Oakington. The Varsity was serving with RAF Technical College.
Source of Information
http://issuu.com/aviationsafetynetwork/docs/varsity_vampire_incident__thu_7_julhttp://issuu.com/aviationsafetynetwork/docs/varsity_vampire_incident__thu_7_julPrimary Cause
Possible misidentification of an approaching aircraft due to wind conditions and the Vampire?s amber screens.Possible misidentification of an approaching aircraft due to wind conditions and the Vampire?s amber screens.Share on:
