| Status: | |
| Date: | Thursday 19 December 1946 |
| Type: |  Douglas C-47A-10-DK (DC-3) |
| Operator: | Railway Air Services |
| Registration: | G-AGZA |
| MSN: | 12455 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Engines: | 2 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | 1 km (0.6 mls) NE of London-Northolt Airport (NHT) ( United Kingdom)
|
| Phase: | Initial climb (ICL) |
| Nature: | Domestic Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | London-Northolt Airport (NHT/EGWU), United Kingdom |
| Glasgow-Renfrew Airport, United Kingdom |
It was a cold, snowy evening at London-Northolt Airport, when the DC-3 taxied into position for takeoff. The snow storm had closed the airport to incoming traffic, and outbound traffic was subject to long delays. The plane had been waiting for more than an hour waiting for clearance. When G-AGZA received clearance, the pilot ran the engines up to 45.5 inches of manifold pressure and 2,500 RPM. The DC-3 lifted off the runway but couldn't gain height. The aircraft landed on top of a house at 46 Angus Drive in the London suburb of Ruislip.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot taking off when the aircraft was almost entirely covered with snow. In doing this the pilot committed an error of judgement."
Sources:
» The Civil Aircraft Registers of Great Britain» Ruislip resident’s narrow escape as The Dakota pays a flying visit
Photos
accident date: 19-12-1946
type: Douglas C-47A (DC-3)
registration: G-AGZA
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 Glasgow-Renfrew Airport as the crow flies is 542 km (339 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
Distance from London-Northolt Airport to Glasgow-Renfrew Airport as the crow flies is 542 km (339 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
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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