Investigation Summary
The flight was an additional service scheduled to clear a backlog of passengers caused by fog the previous day, operating from Jersey to Southend with a scheduled stop at Portsmouth. Although the flight began in clear weather, conditions near the Isle of Wight deteriorated rapidly with low cloud, drizzle, and hill fog. The crew requested and received permission from London FIR to descend from 3,000 feet to 1,000 feet while still over the sea. Investigators found that the pilot-in-command likely intended to maintain visual contact with the ground to navigate toward Portsmouth, which lacked radio approach aids at the time. However, the aircraft entered an area of 8/8 cloud coverage and struck the slopes of St Boniface Down at an elevation of 717 feet. The investigation highlighted deficiencies in the airline's operations manual regarding weather minima and the use of radar aids at the nearby RAF Thorney Island, which was not available on the day of the accident (a Sunday).
Final Conclusions
The Ministry of Aviation concluded that the probable cause was an error of airmanship in which the aircraft was flown below a safe altitude in bad weather conditions, leading to a collision with cloud-covered high ground. The report noted that the pilot-in-command had not established his position over the Thorney Island NDB before descending below the safety altitude of 2,300 feet. (Civil Aircraft Accident Report No. EW/C/05, C.A.P. 197).
Video Analysis
The 1962 Channel Airways Dakota Crash — A detailed look at the events leading to the crash of G-AGZB on the Isle of Wight, exploring the weather conditions and navigational challenges of the era.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Age 36. Held valid ALTP and instrument rating.
Systems & Failure Modes
Altimeter
The crew requested and received the Wessex QNH (altimeter setting) shortly before the crash to ensure accurate altitude readings during descent.
ADF Receiver
The aircraft was equipped with a single Automatic Direction Finder, which could have been used with the Thorney Island NDB, though the crew opted for a visual descent.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was a former British European Airways 'Pionair' named Robert Smith-Barry.
- 02Portsmouth Airport had no radio communication facilities or radio approach aids at the time of the accident.
- 03The aircraft struck the ground just 50 feet below the summit of St Boniface Down.
- 04A farm worker was the first responder, successfully pulling the stewardess and one passenger from the burning wreckage; both later died from their injuries.
- 05The pilot-in-command's rest period prior to the flight was 11 hours 55 minutes, which was below the legal minimum of 13 hours, though this was not cited as a cause.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Aerodrome Facility Requirements
Source ↗The investigation recommended that scheduled passenger transport services should be restricted to aerodromes that possess radio communication facilities.
Operations Manual Standardization
Source ↗The report highlighted the need for clearer instructions in airline operations manuals regarding the use of radar aids at nearby airfields and the specific conditions under which they are available.