Icelandic Airline Crash 1951 - Crow Stones Edge on Howden Moors

Icelandic Airline Crash 1951

The Airspeed Consul TF-RPM of Icelandic Airline crashed 12th April 1951at Crow Stones Edge on Howden Moors.

The aircraft had begun life as an Oxford in 1942 and was used by the RAF and was used for training purposes. The aircraft manufacturer re-purchased the Oxford and converted it for civilian use by adding windows and passenger seats. The Consul was purchased by an Icelandic airline and was on its delivery flight from Croydon piloted by Pall Magnusson aged twenty six, and acting as the wireless operator was an Englishman, Alexander Watson aged forty two and a passenger another Icelander Johann Rist aged thirty five.

The Oxford before being converted to a passenger plane

It is thought that the pilot decided to fly visual rather than on instruments, despite a poor weather forecast and high wind speeds.

A lone walker, Ronald Yates of Sheffield discovered the wreckage and the bodies of the crew a few days later. They were probably killed instantly.

One of the engines at the site of the crash at  Crow Stones Edge on Howden Moors

Aviation Accident Investigation Branch found there was no mechanical fault with the aircraft and concluded that the aircraft had met the ground at full power. The investigation team believed the pilot got caught in the cloud and climbed to avoid high ground but with head winds of seventy miles an hour slowing his progress he must have miscalculated his position and when he descended through the cloud to establish visual, he flew straight into the ground.

A part of the crash site was excavated a few years ago which discovered the main frame of the aircraft along with one of the engines.

By M. Cox

Check Out Our Events & Projects at glossoptours.moonfruit.com