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cliveh
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« on: September 25, 2011, 19:21:06 PM » |
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Another West Malling tragedy. The aircraft flew into the ground after a night take-off. This is the grave of one of the crew, F.O. R.A. Hollingsworth, in West Malling Churchyard.
cliveh:
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John
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« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2011, 19:36:50 PM » |
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This Meteor crashed about one minute after take off from Runway 25 at West Malling. Constructed in April 1953, it had flown a total of 626 hours. The pilot was aged 23 and held a 'White' instrument rating and his flying assessment was 'Average', and he had logged 478 hours as first pilot including 115 in Meteor NF12's. His night flying experience was good too, with 55 hours logged, of which 44 were in the NF12.
Examination at the scene of the crash showed that the Meteor had been in a very shallow dive with the port wing low as it crashed through a hedge then an orchard. A 600 yard long trail of wreckage it left showed that it had ample flying speed at the time - both engines had been torn off in the crash and it was noted that there was a marked difference in the damage to the rotating assemblies. The starboard compressor and turbine were extensively damaged consistent with high speed rotation at the moment of impact while the port engine, in contrast, showed very little evidence of rotation suggesting that it may have been running down.
All of the evidence pointed to a 'flame out' causing the Meteor to veer sharply, and in fact air tests in NF12's showed that it was almost impossible for an aircraft to veer in the way this one did by using flight controls, but comparable results were obtained by throttling back the port engine.
Both of the occupants died in the crash, and the hood was still in place.
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cliveh
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« Reply #2 on: September 26, 2011, 09:54:58 AM » |
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Thanks for this additional info John.
cliveh
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John
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« Reply #3 on: September 26, 2011, 18:39:25 PM » |
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It was quite odd that I was reading up on this incident just as you posted your picture of the headstone, so the information was readily to hand!
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cliveh
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« Reply #4 on: September 26, 2011, 21:02:06 PM » |
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This is the grave of the second crew member F.O. J.C. Langham aged 23.
Which one was the pilot John?
cliveh:
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John
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« Reply #5 on: September 26, 2011, 21:23:19 PM » |
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Oddly enough, the source I used (Accidents Investigation Branch, Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation - memorandum s.2815) doesn't name either of the crew. I guess the ORB for West Malling will contain the details, but I haven't seen that one yet.
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John
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« Reply #6 on: August 23, 2012, 19:12:41 PM » |
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Which one was the pilot John?
Flying Officer J.C. Langham was the pilot. |
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John
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« Reply #7 on: August 25, 2012, 08:49:50 AM » |
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Three photographs from the crash scene. The first shows a hedge and fence damaged by the wing and ventral tanks of WS694 - the Meteor travelled left to right across that view. Second picture shows where the aircraft entered the orchard, and the third shows part of one wing with the airbrake extended.
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cliveh
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« Reply #8 on: August 25, 2012, 10:00:40 AM » |
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Three photographs from the crash scene. The first shows a hedge and fence damaged by the wing and ventral tanks of WS694 - the Meteor travelled left to right across that view. Second picture shows where the aircraft entered the orchard, and the third shows part of one wing with the airbrake extended.
Which church is that in the first photo please John? cliveh |
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John
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« Reply #9 on: August 25, 2012, 10:12:55 AM » |
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Good question. I don't know the name of the church, but I've highlighted it on the image below..
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Peter4456
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« Reply #11 on: August 25, 2012, 18:11:06 PM » |
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What a strange accident - it looks very different to the other Meteor crashes we've seen on here!
Any more crash site photos John?
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John
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« Reply #12 on: August 26, 2012, 06:43:21 AM » |
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Yes, I've got a few which I will post soon. It looks, from the reports, as if the Meteor suffered a 'flame out' in the port engine, possibly (and I stress possibly) caused by a zero-hours fuel pump failing immediately after take-off, causing the aircraft to veer off course. It hit the hedge in the picture almost laterally level, port wing down very slightly, and with just a bit more luck the crew could have survived the forced landing.
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John
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« Reply #13 on: August 26, 2012, 13:20:12 PM » |
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Paid a little visit there today, and was pleasantly suprised to bump into 'Gilbo'. Good to meet you!
A rough comparison shot showing the first impact point as it is today..
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Peter4456
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« Reply #14 on: August 26, 2012, 21:19:18 PM » |
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If I still lived in God's country, you'd have bumped into me as well - on the same mission!
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