British European Airways Flight 411

British European Airways Flight 411 crashed on approach to Manchester Airport after a flight from Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport on the 14 March 1957 and hit a house in Wythenshawe. All onboard, 20 passengers and crew, died in the crash as did two people in the house. The aircraft involved was a Vickers Viscount registration G-ALWE operated by British European Airways. The cause of the crash was metal fatigue in flaps causing loss of control.

Aircraft

G-ALWE, RMA Discovery, was the first Viscount 701 type to be manufactured by Vickers in 1952.

Final flight

Flight 411 took off from Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport. On board were 15 holiday makers and five crew members. 90 minutes after departure flight 411 was cleared for approach into Manchester Airport. In low cloud and following a ground controlled approach the flight crew lowered the landing gear and turned into their final approach under visual control. One mile short of the runway eyewitnesses saw the aircraft turn into a shallow right descending turn with a steep bank angle. The Viscount's right wing hit the ground and the rest of the plane broke up bursting into flames and crashing into a house 85 yards beyond the impact point further on. All 20 passengers and crew on the aircraft died in the crash and two occupants of the house also died.

Emergency service response

Fire, police and ambulance services got to the crash site within minutes of the crash. The fire was put out rapidly but by this time all the casualties had already died.

Investigation

The investigation into the crash of Flight 411 found that the probable cause of the crash was metal fatigue in the bottom bolt securing the starboard wing number 2 flap unit. The aileron locked when number 2 flap unit became detached from the wing trailing edge.

Aftermath

The investigation made several recommendations:-

1. That reliance on a single bolt in tension for the support of a primary structure should be avoided if possible.
2. That where such bolts are used an ample margin of strength should be allowed (having regard to the material of which the bolt is made) so as to ensure that fatigue will not develop at any time in the life of the bolt.
3. That where such bolts are used the seating of the bolt and nut should be carefully checked.

References

• Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network
• Airliners.net entry on G-ALWE