RAF Lincoln crash near Leconfield, Yorks, 25 November 1951

[A37575]

I have just received an airmail copy of my old school magazine called The Old Juddian. That was from Judd School in Tonbridge, Kent. I was interested to read of the experience of one of the chaps in my class who was badly injured during the crash of a Lincoln on 27 November 1951 near Beverley, Yorkshire. It was apparently attempting to land at RAF Station Leconfield, East Yorkshire.

A newspaper photo showed the aircraft on its belly with the wreckage against the Scarborough to Hull train line. 15 people were aboard the Lincoln and two were killed.

Can anyone provide more details on what caused the accident, please. I have more than a passing interest as I flew RAAF Lincolns at Townsville, Australia

[Kieron Kirk]

From "Broken Wings", J J Halley/Air Britain.

RF500 Lincoln B.2 Central Gunnery School, Leconfield ? stalled on aproach to Leconfield, 2 killed.

Ciarain.

[Old-Duffer]

The two fatal casualties were: Junior Technician Robert TAYLOR and Leading Aircraftman Roy Edward SKELDON.

The basic cause of the stall, which happened when the flaps were lowered fully at 500 feet on finals, was that the passengers and moveable load were distributed in such a way that the aircraft's CofG went outside limits when the flaps were lowered for landing.

This sort of thing had happened with other bomber aircraft when used for carrying pax/freight, as there was only the most elementary 'trimming' carried out and certainly no formal weight and balance checks as with a proper transport aircraft of the day.

Hope this is of interest.

Old Duffer

[A37575]

This sort of thing had happened with other bomber aircraft when used for carrying pax/freight, as there was only the most elementary 'trimming' carried out and certainly no formal weight and balance checks as with a proper transport aircraft of the day.

Hope this is of interest.

Old Duffer

Thanks OD. Most interesting. Been there -done that. Was teaching a new Sergeant Pilot circuits in a Lincoln at night with the port outer throttled back to simulate an engine out. Downwind, the student requested undercarriage down and one quarter flap. After getting a quarter flap on the flap gauge I selected flap lever to neutral but the bloody lever snapped off at the base below the cockpit floor. The flaps hydraulic valve went to full down and the upwards trim change was positively dangerous.

Speed fell off as nose went up beyond 25 degrees even with full forward elevator. Once we got on final we were OK because power was low. Later I re-read the warning in Pilots Notes Lincoln which stated:
"Mislanding and going around again...it is essential to raise the flap to half down before the undercarriage is selected up ..otherwise an uncontrollable nose up change of trim may be experienced at loadings near the aft CG limit...this is aggravated by the use of full power".

It was fortunate the port outer was only throttled back instead of feathered otherwise with the rapid drop in airspeed caused by the strong nose up pitching moment we might have been in serious trouble.

[russelgj]

My father recounts his version of the crash so:
Sitting outside near the flight line he saw the Lincoln on approach as it began to overshoot the runway.

It became apparent that the aircraft went into a steep nose up attitude and failed to recover from a stall. The aircraft fell to the ground outside the perimeter of the airfield beyond a group of trees obscuring his view of its final moments.

Dad was unsure that the accident happened on a Sunday quoting that he never flew on Sundays but he does Seem to think that on board were members of the rugby club probably returning from a match played at the weekend.

Dad over flew the crash site soon afterwards (not Sunday?!) and saw the stricken aircraft below.

One crew ember, an engineer escaped serious injury but dad recollects he got his head stuck through the fuselage on impact but was rescued successfully.

[Warmtoast]

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/PressReport_zps6e5e3754.jpg

[A37575]

To contributors Warmtoast and Russelgi. Thanks for the additional information. I noticed that Aircraftsman B.Mortimer was mentioned in the press cutting. That was Brian Mortimer, who was the former Judd School, Tonbridge, Kent, school boy mentioned in the opening post.
A37575