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Keith Sturt - Vulcan accident Syerston 1958

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Keith Sturt - Vulcan accident Syerston 1958

Old 21st Mar 2008, 03:24
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report of accident

On 20 September 1958, a Rolls Royce test pilot was authorized to fly VX770 on an engine performance sortie with a fly past at RAF Syerston Battle of Britain "At Home" display. The briefing was for the pilot to fly over the airfield twice at 200–300 ft (60–90 m), flying at a speed of 250–300 knots (460–560 km/h). The Vulcan flew along the main 25/07 runway then started a roll to starboard and climbed slightly. Very shortly a kink appeared in the starboard mainplane leading edge followed by a stripping of the leading edge of the wing. The starboard wingtip then broke followed by a collapse of the main spar and wing structure. Subsequently, the Vulcan went into a dive and began rolling with the starboard wing on fire and struck the ground at the taxiway of the end of runway 07. Three occupants of a controllers' caravan were killed by debris, a fourth being injured. All four of the Vulcan crew were killed. The cause of the crash was pilot error; the captain flew the aircraft over the airfield at 410–420 knots (760–780 km/h) instead of the briefed 250–300 knots he had also descended to a height of 65–70 ft (approximately 20 m). Rolling the Vulcan to starboard while flying at this speed, the aircraft was rolled at a rate of 15–20 degrees/second while pulling up into a 3,000 ft (910 m) per minute climb imposing a strain of between 2–3 g where it should have remained below 1.25 g. The VX770 was a prototype and was not as strong as later production models, indeed buckling of the leading edge in this plane was a known problem and was the primary reason for low flight performance limits being imposed.
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Old 21st Mar 2008, 08:25
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If the cine film could be found, perhaps a more accurate assessment of the flypast speed could be made. 'Witness estimates' at air shows are notoriously unreliable.

The original Mk 1 had a substantial altimeter position error at approach speeds; did VX770 have similar errors at higher speeds? And on what altimter setting was the '250 ft' flown? I other words, it cannot be certain that the height of the flypast was a deliberate contravention of the flight authorisation.

Was the aircraft really within less than one wingspan of the runway?

Vulcan VX770 was a hybrid; it was the original first prototype which had ultimately been fitted with Conway engines at Hucknall for engine development testing. It lacked the strength of the Mk1 and with lower structural weight and around 70000 lb of thrust compared to the original 26000 lb of thrust, it would have been a very 'hot ship' indeed. But the most serious issue is that RAF and company test pilots had routinely been flying wholly unnecessary aerobatics in the aircraft; it had often been rolled, and, on at least one occasion, it had actually been looped. A fact that had been covered up and probably wasn't made known to the crash investigators. Rolls-off-the-top had also been flown, so it is highly likely that the aircraft had been substantially damaged by other pilots before the Syerston crash.

In those days, there was intense competition between aircraft companies and each would try to outdo the other. So the practice of flying wholly pointless and potentially seriously damaging aerobatics in medium bombers such as the Vulcan would not have raised many eyebrows.

Even if the display pilot exceeded his brief - and do we really know that - the most likely cause of the accident, to my mind, was the damage inflicted by the irresponsible flying of other pilots.

Some years ago, we had more fuel leaks than normal in one of our VC10K3s. After a bit of delving, and looking at fatigue records, it was evident that one pilot (whose enthusiasm was not matched by his flying ability) had flown at least 3 fast flypasts at high weight with high 'g' (for a VC10) into a climbout. One departure from Abbotsford with over 80 tonnes of fuel on board had included a 300 KIAS flypast in slight turbulence, then a ham fisted yug into a climb. That single flypast put over a year's worth of fatigue on the aeroplane.....
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Old 11th Sep 2008, 08:48
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Urgent - BBC require urgent access to RAF Syerston

Some of you will recall my request to obtain as much info possible regarding my Step Grand Father Keith Sturt and his crash in the Avro VX770 Vulcan at Syerston. The BBC have picked up on this story based on my You Tube footage tribute to Keith. They desperately need to get in touch with someone who works or who has connections with RAF Syerston to be able to access it next week and do some filming for 'East Midlands Today' news in time for the 50th anniversary on 20th Sept. I remember how some of you have come forward from the Gliding school there but don't have any telephone numbers. Can someone get in touch with me asap so that I can put you in touch with the BBC please? Apparently they are also interested in doing a documentary about the accident to be televised later this year. Thanks so much for all your help so far!
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Old 11th Sep 2008, 08:51
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Syerston 1958 Vulcan crash footage

For those of you who wish to view the Syerston 1958 crash and a Tribute to Keith Sturt please go to:

Tribute: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=RzJi4EV28rE


Footage:http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=KGOY1jZGNHU
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Old 11th Sep 2008, 09:21
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No 644 Volunteer Gliding Squadron is at Syerston - contact info on the web site.
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Old 11th Sep 2008, 09:38
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Catherine

BBC should try the MOD Press Office

MoD Press Office Duty Number: 0207 218 7907

Or for media enquiries in the EASTERN Area:
Eleanor Treharne-Jones
Tel: 01480 425346
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Old 11th Sep 2008, 11:11
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Thumbs up Contacts at RAF Syerston

Contact OC ACCGS = [email protected] or by telephone Mon to Fri 0830 to 1700 on +44 01636525467.
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Old 12th Sep 2008, 12:32
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Syerston

Catherine,
Please check your Private Messages
KBC

Last edited by klingonbc; 12th Sep 2008 at 12:39. Reason: spelling
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Old 20th Sep 2008, 18:37
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The BBC East Midlands Today item is now online through the BBC website at BBC NEWS | England | Anniversary of Vulcan crash . It was shown on Friday evening under the title Anniversary of Vulcan Crash, though today, 20th September, is the actual anniversary.
I, too, was there, as a schoolboy, having cycled to the event. I don't recall seeing the video before, but it looked just as I had remembered it. The accident obviously didn't deter me too much, as I subsequently went into the military flying business, and still enjoy it today.
This morning, I walked around Newark, where RAFA members were collecting for Wings Week. I stopped to talk to the Chairman of the Newark Branch, and found that the man already in conversation with him had also been at Syerston that day!
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Old 27th Oct 2008, 16:06
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Don't blame the pilot

Just seen the communications re Keith Sturt. I am absolutely convinced the leading edge of VX770 was damaged before Keith took off. The aircraft had been doing a lot of aerobatics prior to the accident and at Woodford we had a special small man who used to crawl up and down the leading edges to inspect for damage and repair as necessary. I do not believe that Keith exceeded the maximum speed of VX770 which was 300 knots. The aircraft had been doing rolls off the top and I understand on good authority one loop; the maximum permitted g for the aircraft was only 2g and in my experience that probably would not have been enough for the vertical manoeuvres.
It is so easy to blame the pilot when he is not there and of course there was no crash recorder, just a very poor amateur film.
There is a very clear single frame picture of the leading edge coming off.
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Old 27th Oct 2008, 17:27
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That wouldn't surprise me in the least, Tony.

In RAF service, the Vulcan was cleared for manoeuvres 'appropriate for a medium bomber'......

But no-one ever did tell us what that meant!

Is there sufficient compelling evidence to have the case re-opened at this late stage? If irresponsible flying by RAF crews had caused unknown damage, Keith Sturt was surely the victim of manslaughter?
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Old 27th Oct 2008, 17:46
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Beagle:

I understand your sentiments above, but was 770 ever fown by RAF crews? As the 1st prototype, would it not have remained in the hands of test pilots?
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Old 27th Oct 2008, 22:11
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Vulcan VX770 was a hybrid; it was the original first prototype which had ultimately been fitted with Conway engines at Hucknall for engine development testing. It lacked the strength of the Mk1 and with lower structural weight and around 70000 lb of thrust compared to the original 26000 lb of thrust, it would have been a very 'hot ship' indeed. But the most serious issue is that RAF and company test pilots had routinely been flying wholly unnecessary aerobatics in the aircraft; it had often been rolled, and, on at least one occasion, it had actually been looped. A fact that had been covered up and probably wasn't made known to the crash investigators. Rolls-off-the-top had also been flown, so it is highly likely that the aircraft had been substantially damaged by other pilots before the Syerston crash.
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Old 28th Oct 2008, 00:49
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hi cat

I posted a youtube clip of the crash in the "did you fly the Vulcan" thread but I can't find it now as I'm on my iPod. Try looking in that thread and I'll have another look tomorrow.

All the best

Andoni
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Old 14th Nov 2008, 22:46
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Burial of Keith Sturt

Hi Catherine, Just wondering if you found at where your stepgrandfather is buried. I came across the burial when doing some family history on the Ashfield council website of cemeteries for Hucknall and looked up the incident on the web, I used to work at Rolls Royce hucknall myself , but later on 1964. My mum worked there also and was a waitress to the test pilots and served their meals and laid out tables for them. Unfortunately she is no longer alive and I don't know if she would have known Keith.This should take you to the page the burial is entered on. http://www.ashfield-dc.gov.uk/ashfie...Page_00087.jpg

Apologies if you already know this. Best Regards, Di.
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Old 16th Jan 2011, 18:45
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R.W.Ford

Ron Ford was my grandad Leonard Fords brother Williams son/ I was told about this terrible crash many times over, so i am trying to gather as much info as i can to pass on to my grand children.Any info would be much appreciated.
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Old 17th Mar 2013, 14:58
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Catherine,

My website has a few photos of Colin Coulthard...Maybe some you don't have:-

Logbook

You are welcome to use any of them
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Old 17th May 2016, 07:59
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Vulcan

Just seen this thread I too was there that day I was eight years old. My father was an air traffic controller there. He was due to go out to the runway caravan but someone stopped to talk to him on his way there so he was very lucky. We knew Eddie Simpson very well and kept in contact with his wife and daughter for many years. My brother went on to fly Vulcans years later and was on display team.
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Old 23rd Mar 2017, 14:21
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Video of Vulcan crash

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3...f-syerston_fun

RIP
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Old 28th Oct 2020, 15:24
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I have just found your Keith Sturt Gravesone
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