Narrative:
The DC-3 (named 'Saint Kevin') departed Northolt Airport at 17:25 for an IFR flight to Dublin. Last radio contact with the flight was around 19:15 when the flight requested a descent. The request was granted by the Dublin controller, but the clearance was not read back by the DC-3 crew.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The encountering of a powerful down-current of air on the lee side of Snowdon which forced the aircraft down into an area of very great turbulence were through one or another of several possible causes the pilot or pilots lost control."
Loss of control
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 10 January 1952 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota 3 |
| Operator: | Aer Lingus |
| Registration: | EI-AFL |
| MSN: | 33447/16699 |
| First flight: | 1945 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-90C |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 20 / Occupants: 20 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 23 / Occupants: 23 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Cwm Edno, Wales ( United Kingdom)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | London-Northolt Airport (NHT/EGWU), United Kingdom |
| Dublin Airport (DUB/EIDW), Ireland |
The DC-3 (named 'Saint Kevin') departed Northolt Airport at 17:25 for an IFR flight to Dublin. Last radio contact with the flight was around 19:15 when the flight requested a descent. The request was granted by the Dublin controller, but the clearance was not read back by the DC-3 crew.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The encountering of a powerful down-current of air on the lee side of Snowdon which forced the aircraft down into an area of very great turbulence were through one or another of several possible causes the pilot or pilots lost control."
Classification:
Windshear/downdraftLoss of control
Sources:
» ICAO Circular 38-AN/33 (28-38)Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from London-Northolt Airport to Dublin Airport as the crow flies is 444 km (277 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from London-Northolt Airport to Dublin Airport as the crow flies is 444 km (277 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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Douglas DC-3
- ca 13.000 built
- 3024th loss
- 1085th fatal accident
- 73rd worst accident (at the time)
- 158th worst accident (currently)
United Kingdom- 10th worst accident (at the time)
- 25th worst accident (currently)
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