1947 BOAC Douglas C-47 crash
A Douglas DC-3 of British European Airways, similar to the accident aircraft.
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| Accident summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | 11 January 1947 |
| Summary | Multiple issues – crew route inexperience, weather, crew resource management, crew rostering oversight, shortfall in airfield radio capacity, pilot error |
| Site | Stowting, Kent, United Kingdom |
| Passengers | 11 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Fatalities | 8 |
| Injuries (non-fatal) | 8 |
| Survivors | 8 |
| Aircraft type | Douglas C-47A |
| Operator | British Overseas Airways Corporation |
| Registration | G-AGJX (formerly 42-92236 and FL604) |
| Flight origin | Heathrow Airport, London |
| Stopover | Bordeaux, France |
| Destination | West Africa |
The 1947 BOAC Douglas C-47 Crash occurred on 11 January 1947 when Douglas C-47A G-AGJX of British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) crashed into a hill at Stowting, Kent, in southeast England, killing five people outright, with a further three dying from injuries received. The aircraft had been operating a scheduled international flight to West Africa via France. Poor weather caused the aircraft to attempt to divert. After attempts to land at a number of French airports, the pilot decided to return to the United Kingdom as he was running short of fuel. The aircraft crashed whilst attempting to land at Lympne Airport.
The accident aircraft was Douglas C-47A G-AGJX, c/n 12014. The aircraft was built in 1942 and served with the United States Army Air Forces as 42-92236. It was later transferred to the Royal Air Force as FL604. On 7 July 1944, it was sold to BOAC and registered G-AGJX. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had flown for 3,898 hours. It had been overhauled the previous month, and a new certificate of airworthiness had been issued on 31 December 1946.
The aircraft was operating a scheduled international flight from London Heathrow to West Africa, with a stopover at Bordeaux. Both captain and first officer were operating their first operational flight since the previous summer.
The aircraft took off from Heathrow at 09:48 GMT. At 12:09, the aircraft was 4th in line to land at Bordeaux. At 12:28, a weather report for Bordeaux was transmitted to the aircraft. This stated "Visibility 1500 metres, 10/10 60–100 metres, WSW 20km, Q.F.E. 1007.6". The direction of landing was given as 235°. By 12:30, the aircraft was next in line to land. At 1240, priority was given to a Royal Air Force Avro York, which was flying on only three engines. The aircraft was ordered to fly a circuit of the airfield whilst the York landed. At 1254, the York landed, but had to backtrack along the runway because the perimeter track was unserviceable. At 12:58, the captain asked for the weather at Toulouse. At 12:59, the weather at Toulouse was sent to the aircraft. This stated "Ceiling 300 metres, visibility 2 km, wind E 10 km". With this report, the captain was informed that he was next in line to land at Bordeaux. The captain then told air traffic control that he was diverting because the weather was below the minimum conditions permissible and asked for the weather at Toulouse. In evidence given to the enquiry, this was corroborated by the crew of British European Airways Dakota G-AGZX, which confirmed that the Toulouse weather was asked for. However, the radio operator recorded in his logbook "1300 hrs, set course for London". The aircraft turned on a heading back to England but then changed course for Paris. At 13:08, the weather at Bordeaux had deteriorated and the Q.G.O. message was sent to the aircraft, indicating that it was now prohibited from landing at Bordeaux.
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