On 27 March 1951 a Douglas Dakota 3 cargo aircraft registered ''G-AJVZ'' operated by

Air Transport Charter Air Transport Charter (C.I.) Limited was a Jersey based charter and cargo airline from 1947 to 1950. History The company was formed in 1947 to carry out passenger and cargo charters from the Channel Islands mainly to England. Operations ceased ...

en route from Ringway Airport, Manchester, England, to

Nutts Corner Royal Air Force Nutts Corner or more simply RAF Nutts Corner is a former Royal Air Force station located east of Crumlin, County Antrim, Northern Ireland and north west of Belfast. It was originally a civil airfield, then it became a military ...

Airport, Antrim,

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

, crashed shortly after takeoff following the failure of the aircraft to gain height. There were two fatalities amongst the crew on board.

Accident

Douglas C-47A G-AJVZ Air Tpt Charter RWY 27

The Dakota was operating a flight carrying newspapers from Ringway to Nutts Corner. On takeoff from Runway 06 in freezing conditions and light falling snow, it swung to port, failed to climb, and struck the top of a tree in Woodhouse Lane, close to the hamlet of

Heyhead Wythenshawe () is a district of the city of Manchester, England. Historically in Cheshire, Wythenshawe was transferred in 1931 to the City of Manchester, which had begun building a massive housing estate there in the 1920s. With an area of approx ...

, half a mile from the end of the runway. Both pilots were killed.

Conclusion

The subsequent investigation found that the crash resulted from a loss of engine power caused by ice formation in the carburettor intakes attributable to the captain's failure to make use of the heat controls. The extended undercarriage and the presence of snow on the wings may have also been contributory factors.

References

External links

Manchester Airport
Aviation accidents and incidents in England Aviation accidents and incidents in 1951 Air Transport Charter accidents and incidents Aviation accidents and incidents at Manchester Airport 1951 in England March 1951 events in the United Kingdom Accidents and incidents involving the Douglas C-47 Skytrain {{aviation-accident-stub