ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 94292
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Tuesday 27 March 1973 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Hawker Hunter FGA.9 |
| Owner/operator: | 229 OCU (79 Sqn) RAF |
| Registration: | XG256 |
| MSN: | 41H/680056 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Caradon Hill, near Liskeard, Cornwall -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | RAF Chivenor, Devon (EGDC) |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources |
Written off (damaged beyond repair) 27/03/1973: Hit the stays of a TV mast on Caradon Hill, near Liskeard, Cornwall and crashed. The pilot (Flying Officer R. Pearson) ejected safely.
Questions were raised about this incident in the House of Commons. According to "Hansard" the official record of British Parliamentary debates:
"Mr. Robert Hicks (Hon Member for Bodmin): As my hon. Friend is already aware, the problem of low-flying military aircraft was highlighted in my constituency on Tuesday, 27th March when there was an accident involving a Royal Air Force Hunter jet which flew into one of the supporting stays of the television transmitter on Caradon Hill. Fortunately, the pilot baled out. I hope that he makes a quick and successful recovery from his injuries. Furthermore, on that occasion, as far as I am aware, there was no damage to property. As my hon. Friend has already informed me, a full investigation is being carried and will include all relevant safety aspects.
I shall not expect the Minister in his reply to refer to this specific incident, but I believe that this is an appropriate occasion on which to make certain observations of a more general nature. Can my hon. Friend confirm that the Caradon Hill area is within an authorised low-flying area? If it is, is it necessary to include that area? It not only includes the prominent local landmark of Caradon Hill, which is 1,212 feet above sea level and which stands above the level of surrounding countryside, but it also contains a television aerial mast on top, which is a further 780 feet high. In addition, the low-flying area is located adjacent to the growth villages to which I have referred.
I do not wish to sound provocative or alarmist, but a local person has calculated that had this Hunter aircraft at the speed it was travelling hit the mast at an angle two or three degrees different from that at which in fact it struck the mast, it could well have crashed and the parts would have been spread over a populated area."
Sources:
http://www.ukserials.com/prodlists.php?type=600
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caradon_Hill_transmitting_station
https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1973/apr/12/royal-air-force
https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1973/1973
Media:
XG256 when 'B' of 8 Squadron in 1966:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 19-Apr-2013 03:13 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Date, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 21-Apr-2013 18:05 | Nepa | Updated [Operator] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation