1953 Skyways Avro York disappearance
Encyclopedia
The 1953 Skyways Avro York disappearance occurred on the 2 February when an Avro York
four-engined piston airliner registered
G-AHFA of Skyways Limited disappeared over the North Atlantic on a flight from the United Kingdom to Jamaica. The aircraft had 39 occupants including 13 children.
with six crew and 33 passengers, including both soldiers and families. The aircraft had stopped at Lagens airfield
in the Azores and departed at 23:25 on 1 February 1953 for Gander Airport
in Newfoundland. The aircraft transmitted Positional Operational Meteorological Reports at approximately one hour intervals from 00:10 to 04:25 on 2 February. At 04:10 the aircraft position was given as 44°32'N 41°38'W. At 05:31 Gander heard an Urgency signal from the aircraft giving a position a minute before the message as 46°15'N 46°31'W. The urgency signal was followed by a distress message SOS, SOS, SOS de G-A the message stopped abruptly and no further communications from the aircraft were heard.
An extensive air and sea search failed to find any trace of the aircraft or the 39 occupants. The following day (3 February) United States Coast Guard
cutter Campbell
reported several large oil patches and dye markers about 120 miles south-west of the last reported position of the aircraft, the Campbell reported that the search area had snow squalls.
The aircraft was first registered to the Ministry of Supply and Aircraft Production on 20 March 1946. It was registered to British South American Airways
on 20 August 1946 and operated with the name "Star Dale". It was sold to British Overseas Airways Corporation
on 3 September 1949. BOAC sold the aircraft in 1951 and it was registered to the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation on 11 December 1951.
The report of the inquiry was issued on 3 December 1953 and stated that the cause was unascertainable. The court found the loss was not contributed by any wrongful act or default of any person or party. It was concluded that the urgency signal was transmitted at a normal speed and possible not an indication that urgent assistance was required, quickly followed by a hasty distress signal indicated that whatever the trouble it developed in a sudden and violent manner.
Avro York
The Avro York was a British transport aircraft that was derived from the Second World War Lancaster heavy bomber, and used in both military and airliner roles between 1943 and 1964.-Design and development:...
four-engined piston airliner registered
Aircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
G-AHFA of Skyways Limited disappeared over the North Atlantic on a flight from the United Kingdom to Jamaica. The aircraft had 39 occupants including 13 children.
Accident
The Avro York was a military trooping flight for the British Air Ministry from Stansted Airport in the United Kingdom to JamaicaJamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
with six crew and 33 passengers, including both soldiers and families. The aircraft had stopped at Lagens airfield
Lajes Field
Lajes Field or Lajes Air Base , officially designated Air Base No. 4 , is a multi-use air field, home to the Portuguese Air Force Base Aérea Nº4 and Azores Air Zone Command , a United States Air Force detachment , and a regional air passenger terminal located near Lajes...
in the Azores and departed at 23:25 on 1 February 1953 for Gander Airport
Gander International Airport
Gander International Airport is located in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and is currently run by the Gander Airport Authority. Canadian Forces Base Gander shares the airfield but is a separate entity from the airport.-Early years and prominence:...
in Newfoundland. The aircraft transmitted Positional Operational Meteorological Reports at approximately one hour intervals from 00:10 to 04:25 on 2 February. At 04:10 the aircraft position was given as 44°32'N 41°38'W. At 05:31 Gander heard an Urgency signal from the aircraft giving a position a minute before the message as 46°15'N 46°31'W. The urgency signal was followed by a distress message SOS, SOS, SOS de G-A the message stopped abruptly and no further communications from the aircraft were heard.
An extensive air and sea search failed to find any trace of the aircraft or the 39 occupants. The following day (3 February) United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
cutter Campbell
USCGC Campbell
USCGC Campbell may refer to more than one United States Coast Guard ship.* Revenue Schooner Campbell, named for George Washington Campbell, Treasury Secretary, in service 1830 - 1834...
reported several large oil patches and dye markers about 120 miles south-west of the last reported position of the aircraft, the Campbell reported that the search area had snow squalls.
Aircraft
The Avro York G-AHFA had been built in 1946 and had completed 6418 hours total flying time. It had a valid certificate of airworthiness issued three days before the disappearance and had been completely overhauled in November 1952. The aircraft was owned by the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation and operated by Skyways Limited.The aircraft was first registered to the Ministry of Supply and Aircraft Production on 20 March 1946. It was registered to British South American Airways
British South American Airways
British South American Airways or British South American Airways Corporation was a state-run airline in Britain in the 1940s. It was originally called British Latin American Air Lines Ltd....
on 20 August 1946 and operated with the name "Star Dale". It was sold to British Overseas Airways Corporation
British Overseas Airways Corporation
The British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...
on 3 September 1949. BOAC sold the aircraft in 1951 and it was registered to the Lancashire Aircraft Corporation on 11 December 1951.
Investigation
A public inquiry was opened in London (at Holborn Town Hall) on 2 July 1953 to consider possible causes of the loss of the York. The Solicitor-General representing the Crown absolved the crew from blame, he also ruled out sabotage or contaminated fuel. On the second day the chief investigation officer of the accidents investigation branch gave an opinion that it may have been an uncontrollable engine fire in one engine.The report of the inquiry was issued on 3 December 1953 and stated that the cause was unascertainable. The court found the loss was not contributed by any wrongful act or default of any person or party. It was concluded that the urgency signal was transmitted at a normal speed and possible not an indication that urgent assistance was required, quickly followed by a hasty distress signal indicated that whatever the trouble it developed in a sudden and violent manner.