40th Anniversary of Swiss Vanguard Crash

[Gwyn_ap_Nudd]

Today marks the 40th anniversary of the crash of Vanguard G-AXOP whilst trying to land at Basle-Mulhouse in a heavy snowstorm. I remember hearing about it as a child at the time, as it was a charter flight carrying passengers from a small area of rural Somerset, my home county. The loss of life was devastating for several villages including Axbridge and Cheddar. Local news has carried features on the accident, not least coverage of today's pilgrimmage to the crash site and memorial by relatives, including one lady who lost 11 members of her family including both parents.

The accident report is available on the AAIB website, here: Air Accidents Investigation: 11/1975 G-AXOP (http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/formal_reports/11_1975__g_axop.cfm)

Reading the report, this looks to be a classic illustration of the Swiss Cheese model of accident causation (no irony or humour intended). It's also interesting that in those days the report named the crew.

RIP.

[UV]

As can be clearly seen from the Report the Captain flying this leg (there were two Captains crewed together) had an extremely dubious past. Few of his claimed hours could be substantaited. Para 1.5.2 refers.

Prior to this accident there was no limit to the number of attempts at the Initial UK Instrument Rating. It is no coincidence that from this accident onwards the maximum number of attempts was 9 for many years.

This Captain had eventually passed his test at the ninth attempt.

Those who think that forged licensing hours are unimportant, and later experience can make up for it, ought to read this report carefully.