Investigation Summary
The flight departed Belfast at 11:58 for a scheduled one-hour trip to Manchester. As the aircraft approached the Manchester area, the crew encountered poor visibility due to mist and low cloud. At 12:49, the pilot reported to Ringway Airport control that they were approaching from the northwest at 3,500 feet and were descending to 1,500 feet under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR). However, the aircraft was significantly off course. Instead of being aligned with the airport, it was flying over the rugged terrain of the Pennines. The landing procedure involved flying down a radio beam away from the airfield before performing a 180-degree turn to return and land. Because the aircraft was too far out when the turn was initiated, it remained over high ground at an unsafe altitude. At approximately 13:02, the DC-3 struck the hillside at Wimberry Stones. The impact occurred 15 miles short of the runway. Rescue efforts were severely hampered by the remote location and thick mist, requiring workers from a nearby paper mill to form a human chain to evacuate survivors. The investigation determined that the crew failed to accurately verify their position before descending below the safe altitude for the surrounding high ground.
Final Conclusions
The official investigation concluded that the probable cause was a combination of navigational error and incorrect approach procedures. Specifically, the crew failed to check the aircraft's position accurately before descending from a safe height into a region known for high terrain. The aircraft was operating under IFR in conditions of poor visibility, which necessitated strict adherence to altitude minimums that were not maintained.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Navigation Equipment
The investigation cited a failure to accurately check the aircraft's position, suggesting the crew relied on dead reckoning or inaccurate radio fixes in poor visibility.
Altimeter
The crew descended to 1,500 feet (and eventually hit terrain at 1,350 feet) while still over high ground, indicating a failure to maintain safe terrain clearance.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft struck the hill only 20 feet from the summit.
- 02The crash site was located approximately 15 miles from the destination airport.
- 03Local paper mill workers formed a human chain to assist in the rescue of survivors.
- 04The captain, Frank Wortley Pinkerton, was a former RAF serviceman.
- 05Stephen Evans and his parents survived the crash, but his one-year-old brother Roger was a fatality.
- 06Survivor Michael Prestwich, aged 2, lost both parents and two sisters in the accident.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Navigation and Approach Procedures
The investigation emphasized the necessity for crews to strictly adhere to altitude minimums and accurately verify their position via radio fixes or navigation aids before descending from a safe height, especially when operating under IFR in poor visibility over high terrain.