List of accidents and incidents involving the Vickers VC.1 Viking

Vickers-Armstrongs Limited
Company type	Private company
Industry	Aerospace
Headquarters	Weybridge, United Kingdom
Products	Aircraft including the Vickers VC.1 Viking

The Vickers VC.1 Viking was a British-made, twin-engine short-haul airliner developed from the Vickers Wellington bomber. Manufactured by Vickers-Armstrongs Limited at their Brooklands facility near Weybridge in Surrey, it became a significant aircraft for British and various international airlines in the post-World War II era, serving as a key airliner until turboprop models such as the Vickers Viscount were introduced.

Out of the 163 Vikings produced, 55 were involved in accidents between 1946 and 1965, resulting in a total of 343 fatalities. The deadliest incident occurred on 11 September 1963, when Airnautic’s F-BJER crashed, causing 40 deaths.

The following is a chronological record of accidents and incidents involving the Vickers VC.1 Viking:

1940s

23 April 1945: The prototype G-AGOK sustained irreparable damage after a forced landing at Effingham, Surrey.
30 November 1946: Argentine Air Force’s T-1 crashed near El Palomar, Argentina.
2 September 1947: VL245 operated by the Royal Air Force King's Flight crashed at Dyce, Scotland.
17 September 1947: Argentine Air Force’s T-4 crashed at Aeroparque, Argentina.
29 December 1947: DDL’s OY-DLI crashed into the sea while approaching Kastrup Airport in Copenhagen, Denmark.
6 January 1948: British European Airways’ G-AHPK crashed during approach to RAF Northolt at Ruislip.
6 February 1948: Air India’s VT-CLY crashed in Bombay, India.
27 March 1948: Indian National Airways’ VT-CEL collided with Monte Cardo in Corsica under poor visibility conditions, resulting in total loss of life.
5 April 1948: British European Airways’ G-AIVP was involved in a collision with a Soviet Yak fighter over Berlin and subsequently crashed.
21 May 1948: British European Airways’ G-AIVE crashed into Irish Law mountain in Scotland.
14 May 1948: Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina’s LV-AFL was destroyed by fire after landing at Junin, Buenos Aires.
8 October 1948: Indian National Airways’ VT-CEJ was damaged beyond repair at New Delhi.
8 February 1949: DDL’s OY-DLU crashed into the sea off Oresund, Denmark.
7 April 1949: Air India’s VT-CIZ suffered irreparable damage after landing gear-up on a beach at Marre, India.
13 June 1949: Iraqi Airways’ YI-ABR was damaged beyond repair following a gear-up landing at Baghdad Airport.

1950s

On 13 April 1950, British European Airways' G-AIVL Vigilant suffered severe damage due to a bomb explosion in the rear lavatory compartment but successfully returned to Northolt for a safe landing. Captain Ian Harvey, the pilot, received the George Medal for his actions. The aircraft was subsequently repaired and reinstated into BEA service.
On 27 September 1950, T-8 of the Argentine Air Force was destroyed by fire at El Palomar, Argentina.
On 31 October 1950, British European Airways' G-AHPN crashed in fog at London Heathrow Airport.
On 8 May 1951, Hunting Air Travel's G-AHPD was damaged beyond repair following a forced landing at Beutre, France.
On 11 November 1951, the Argentine Air Force's T-80 crashed at Moron Air Base, Argentina.
On 17 February 1952, Hunting Air Travel’s G-AHPI collided with Monte la Cinta in Scilly, Italy while en route from Nice to Malta, resulting in the loss of all occupants.
Crewsair’s G-AHON sustained irreparable damage after a heavy landing at Luqa, Malta on 25 July 1952.
The Royal Air Force’s VL266 crashed on 19 August 1952.
On 27 October 1952, the Argentine Air Force's T-64 crashed at Moron Air Base. This aircraft, formerly LV-XFM, served as the Presidential aircraft from 1948 to 1952.
British European Airways’ G-AJDL crashed at Nutts Corner, Belfast, Northern Ireland on 5 January 1953.
Central African Airlines’ VP-YEY crashed near Mkwaya, Tanganyika on 29 March 1953.
The Argentine Air Force lost T-6 in a crash at Praderes, Buenos Aires on 9 June 1953.
On 12 August 1953, British European Airways’ G-AIVG was damaged beyond repair at Le Bourget Airport, Paris.
Misrair’s SU-AFK crashed near Almaza Airport in Cairo on 15 December 1953.
Eagle Aviation’s G-AHPO was damaged beyond repair after overrunning the runway in Nuremberg, West Germany on 20 December 1953.
Airwork’s G-AIXS stalled and crashed during approach to Blackbushe Airport in England on 15 August 1954.
Misrair experienced another crash with SU-AFO at Almaza Airport, Cairo on 15 September 1954.
The Argentine Air Force's T-5 crashed at Resistencia on 28 June 1956.
Iraqi Airways’ YI-ABQ crashed during takeoff from Baghdad Airport on 10 October 1955.
Central African Airways’ VP-YMO crashed on departure from Salisbury Airport, Southern Rhodesia on 5 October 1956.
In November 1956, VK-500 of the Arab Legion Air Force crashed near Aquaba, Turkey.
The Argentine Air Force’s T-11 crashed at Aeroparque on 11 January 1957.
Eagle Aviation’s G-AJBO crashed near Star Hill close to Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire on 1 May 1957; of the 35 passengers and crew aboard, only one survived.
On 13 May 1957, Argentine Air Force’s T-3 crashed at San Carlos de Bariloche.
Karl Herfurtner operated D-CADA which was damaged beyond repair following an incident at San Bonet, Palma de Majorca on 26 September 1957.
Misrair’s SU-AGN crashed into Menzalah Lake near Port Said, Egypt on 7 March 1958.
Eagle Aviation’s G-AGRT was destroyed by fire while on the ground at El Adam, Libya on 26 April 1958.
Independent Air Travel’s G-AIJE crashed shortly after takeoff from London Heathrow Airport on 2 September 1958.
Deutsche Flugdienst’s D-BELA force-landed at Zele, Belgium and was damaged beyond repair on 17 October 1958.
East Anglian Flying Services’ G-AHPH suffered irreparable damage when its landing gear collapsed upon landing at Southend Airport on 28 July 1958.
Argentine Air Force's T-92 crashed at El Polmar Air Force Base on 7 August 1959.
On 5 September 1959, Airnautic’s F-BFDN flying from Athens to Bastia Airport plunged into the sea off southern Corsica.
Eagle Aviation’s G-AMGG was damaged beyond repair during an incident at Agadir, Morocco on 22 December 1959.

1960s

On 29 May 1960, the Air Safaris aircraft G-AHOR sustained irreparable damage after landing without deploying the landing gear at Tarbes, France.
The Don Everall (Aviation) plane G-AMNK experienced an engine failure during takeoff on 24 August 1960 and subsequently crashed into the sea near Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
On 4 February 1961, LTU Lufttransport-Unternehmen's D-BALI was written off following damage incurred during takeoff from Düsseldorf, West Germany.
Cunard Eagle Airways' G-AHPM collided with Mount Holtheia in Norway on 9 August 1961, resulting in a fatal crash.
Independent Air Travel's G-AJCE was damaged beyond repair after a forced landing occurred at Lyon, France, on 14 August 1961.
The Airnautic aircraft F-BJER crashed in the Pyrenees region of France on 11 September 1963.
On 8 February 1965, Airnautic’s F-BJEP suffered total loss when its landing gear collapsed during takeoff at Calvi, Corsica.
Invicta Airlines’ G-AHPL was damaged beyond salvage upon landing at RAF Manston, Kent, on 2 August 1965.

Notes

Cite error: <ref> tag with name "eastwood" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

Cite error: <ref> tag with name "bernard" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

Bibliography

Andrews, C.F. and E.B. Morgan. Vickers Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam, 1988. ISBN 0-85177-815-1.
Bernard, Martin. The Viking, Valetta and Varsity. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 1975. ISBN 0-85130-038-3.
Eastwood, Tony and John Roach. Piston Engine Airliner Production List. West Drayton, UK: The Aviation Hobby Shop, 1991. ISBN 0-907178-37-5.