View source for 1962 Channel Airways Dakota accident

{{EngvarB|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox Aircraft occurrence
|name             = 1962 Channel Airways Dakota accident
|occurrence_type  =  Accident
|image            = G-AMDZ DC-3 Channel Aws SEN 02MAR64 (5550557799).jpg
|image_size       = 
|alt              = 
|caption          = A similar Douglas C-47 
|date             = 6 May 1962
|type             = [[Controlled flight into terrain]]
|site             =  [[St Boniface Down]], [[Isle of Wight]], United Kingdom
|coordinates      = {{coord|50.6027|N|1.1977|W|region:GB|display=inline,title}}

<!--These 3 entries for two/three-aircraft occurrences:---->
|total_injuries   = 
|total_fatalities = 
|total_survivors  =

<!--These 17 entries for single-aircraft occurrence:------>
|aircraft_type    = [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|Douglas C-47A Dakota]]
|aircraft_name    = 
|operator         = [[East Anglian Flying Services]] trading as [[Channel Airways]]
|tail_number      = G-AGZB
|origin           = [[Jersey Airport]], [[Jersey]], [[Channel Islands]]
|stopover         = 
|stopover0        = 
|stopover1        = 
|stopover2        = 
|stopover3        = 
|last_stopover    = 
|destination      = [[Portsmouth Airport, Hampshire|Portsmouth Airport]], [[Portsmouth]], England
|passengers       = 15
|crew             = 3
|injuries         = 
|fatalities       = 12
|survivors        = 6
}}

The '''1962 Channel Airways Dakota accident''' occurred on 6 May 1962 when a [[Channel Airways]] {{#tag:ref|The operator was East Anglian Flying Services who operated under the name Channel Airways|group=N}} [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain|Douglas C-47A Dakota]], [[Aircraft registration|registered G-AGZB]] and operating a scheduled [[passenger flight]] from [[Jersey]] to [[Portsmouth]], [[controlled flight into terrain|collided]] with a cloud-covered hill at [[St Boniface Down]], near [[Ventnor]] on the [[Isle of Wight]].  The aircraft had previously been owned by British European Airways, and was named "Robert Smith-Barry". The aircraft was destroyed, and twelve of the eighteen occupants were killed (all three crew members and nine out of 15 passengers, including three infants).<ref name="CAA" /><ref name="Times55384"/><ref name="ASN"/>

==Accident==
The [[Douglas DC-3|Dakota]] was on a scheduled flight from Jersey to [[London Southend Airport|Southend]] with a stop at Portsmouth. There were 15 passengers aboard.<ref name="CAA"/><ref name="Flight773"/> With low cloud and [[drizzle]] in the Portsmouth/Isle of Wight area, the aircraft notified the [[air traffic control|controller]] that they were descending from 3,000 to 1,000 feet.<ref name="CAA"/><ref name="Flight773"/> The aircraft was seen flying low over Ventnor just before it crashed, fifty feet below the summit of [[St Boniface Down]] and close to a disused [[Royal Air Force]] [[radar]] site.<ref name="CAA"/><ref name="Times55384"/> The aircraft bounced and smashed through a ten-foot high perimeter fence of the radar site and burst into flames. Both pilots and eight of the passengers were killed instantly.<ref name="Times55384"/>

The first man on the scene, a farm worker, helped two badly burned girls from the wreckage. After leading two other men to safety, he ran up the road to find help. There he found a group of seven [[amateur radio]] operators broadcasting as G3GWB/p <ref>Isle of Wright Dakota Crash. The Shortwave Magazine, June 1962, p.188f</ref> who were taking part in a competition.<ref name="Times55384"/> The radiomen alerted another amateur radio operator in [[Southampton]] (G3NIM in Netley), who contacted the emergency services.<ref name="Times55384"/> The seven injured were taken to local hospitals at [[Ryde]] and [[Newport, Isle of Wight|Newport]]; two of them, a [[flight attendant|stewardess]] and a passenger, subsequently died.<ref name="Times55384"/>

==Aftermath==
A [[coroner]]'s [[Inquest (England and Wales)|inquest]] was opened and then adjourned for two months on the Isle of Wight on 8 May.<ref name="Times55386"/> The Channel Airways chief pilot said it was the company's first fatal accident in 17 years of operation.<ref name="Times55386"/> The coroner paid tribute to those who took part in the rescue operation, and in particular Edward Price, the farmworker who was first on the scene.<ref name="Times55386"/>

==Probable cause==
The probable cause of the accident was flying below a safe altitude in cloudy, rainy weather.<ref name="CAA"/>

==References==
;Notes
{{reflist|group=N}}
;Citations
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="ASN">{{ASN accident|id=19620506-0}}</ref>
<ref name="CAA">Civil Aviation Authority 1974, p. 11/62</ref>
<ref name="Times55384">
{{Cite newspaper The Times
|title=Ten Killed in Holiday Air Crash – 3 Babies Among The Dead – Dakota Hits Hill in Fog, Seven Injured
|department=News
|date=7 May 1962
|page=10
|issue=55384
|column=A
}}</ref>
<ref name="Times55386">
{{Cite newspaper The Times
|title=Inquest Opened on Air Crash Victims 
|department=News
|date=9 May 1962
|page=15
|issue=55386
|column=C
}}</ref>
<ref name="Flight773">
{{cite journal 
| title= Channel Airways Tragedy
| journal=[[Flight International]]
| page= 773
| date= 17 May 1962 |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1962/1962%20-%200775.html}}</ref>
}}

;Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book
  |title = World Accident Summary
  |publisher=[[Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom)]]
  |year = 1974
  |isbn = 0-903083-44-2}}
{{refend}}

{{Aviation accidents and incidents in 1962}}
{{Aviation accidents and incidents in the United Kingdom}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Channel Airways Dakota accident}}
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1962]]
[[Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in England]]
[[Category:Accidents and incidents involving the Douglas C-47 Skytrain]]
[[Category:Airliner accidents and incidents involving controlled flight into terrain]]
[[Category:1962 in England]]
[[Category:1962 disasters in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:May 1962 events in the United Kingdom]]