Incident Avro 698 Vulcan B.1 XH498,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 59726
 
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Date:Sunday 25 October 1959
Time:
Type:Avro 698 Vulcan B.1
Owner/operator:617 (Dambusters) Sqn RAF
Registration: XH498
MSN:
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Location:Wellington Airport, Wellington 1 -   New Zealand
Phase: Landing
Nature:Demo/Airshow/Display
Departure airport:Ohakea-Royal AFB (OHA/NZOH)
Destination airport:Ohakea-Royal AFB (OHA/NZOH)
Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
Narrative:
The Vulcan was taking part in a airshow being held to mark the official opening of Wellington International Airport, formerly known as Rongotai Airport.
After demonstrating a ' touch-and-go ' on Runway 34 the Vulcan came around again to make a full stop landing.
Turbulence and wind shear caused the jet bomber to land short of the runway threshold, clipping the embankment at the Moa Point or southern end with its port undercarriage leg which was severely damaged and unable to support the aircraft. The port wing tip nearly scraped the runway surface before the pilot was able to lift off again.
Wellington airport has always been known for its difficult wind conditions. The pilots' skill prevented a possible disaster as spectators were present on the western apron, not far from the runway.

The Vulcan returned to RNZAF Ohakea where a safe emergency landing was carried out on just the nose and starboard landing gear, with little further damage to the aircraft.

A repair team was sent from the UK to return the Vulcan to airworthiness and it left NZ on the 4th of January 1960, and remained in service until 19th October 1967.

(To Cat5(G/I) 19/10/1967, allocated as ground instructional airframe 7993M at RAF Finningley. Finally struck off charge as Cat.5 (Scrap) and sold for scrapping 9/2/1970).

Sources:

http://web.archive.org/web/20160315222924/http://www.avrovulcan.org.uk/other_photographers/498_ohakea_1.htm
http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/vulcan/gallery.php
https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/377472-vulcan-b-1-xh498-wellington-nz.html

Images:


Photo captured soon after the safe landing of XH498 at RNZAF Ohakea air Base.

Media:

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
30-Apr-2009 01:21 angels one five Added
22-May-2009 02:32 XLerate Updated
22-Aug-2011 13:21 Uli Elch Updated [Operator, Location, Narrative]
30-Oct-2011 01:22 angels one five Updated [Operator, Narrative]
03-Jan-2012 05:48 Uli Elch Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Narrative]
18-Jan-2012 09:22 Nepa Updated [Aircraft type, Operator]
12-Mar-2012 17:56 Dr. John Smith Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Source, Embed code, Narrative]
12-Apr-2012 00:40 Dr. John Smith Updated [Embed code]
17-Aug-2012 03:27 Nepa Updated [Operator, Embed code]
17-Apr-2013 07:44 angels one five Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Narrative]
26-Jun-2013 18:42 Nepa Updated [Aircraft type, Operator]
19-Mar-2014 06:35 angels one five Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location, Narrative]
01-Jun-2015 16:42 Angel dick one Updated [Operator]
15-Dec-2016 10:21 angels one five Updated [Operator]
09-Oct-2018 18:08 Nepa Updated [Operator, Operator]
20-Feb-2019 20:38 NeilMcNally Updated [Date, Time, Departure airport, Destination airport, Photo]
21-Feb-2019 06:20 Buckeroo44 Updated [Date, Time]
02-Nov-2019 12:08 harro Updated [Embed code]
22-Jan-2022 06:55 Ron Averes Updated [Aircraft type]
31-Jan-2022 03:28 Ron Averes Updated [Location]
13-Feb-2022 01:37 Ron Averes Updated [Location]

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