Winter Hill (air disaster)

Infobox Airliner accident
name=Winter Hill air disaster
Crash

Image caption=
Date=27 February 1958
Type=Controlled flight into terrain
Site=Winter Hill, England
Coordinates =
Fatalities=35
Injuries= 7
Origin= Ronaldsway Airport
Destination= Manchester Airport
Aircraft Type=Bristol Freighter
Operator=Manx Airlines
Tail Number=G-AICS
Passengers=39
Crew=3
Survivors =7

The "Winter Hill air disaster" occurred on 27 February 1958 when a Silver City Bristol 170 Freighter (G-AICS), travelling from the Isle of Man to Manchester, crashed into Winter Hill (also known as Rivington Moor) several hundred yards away from the Independent Television Authority's Winter Hill transmitting station. [ [http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19580227-0 ASN accident record] ]

Thirty-five people died and seven were injured. [http://www.winterhill.org/planecrash.htm Retrieved on 2008-02-12] The weather that night was so severe that none of the engineers working in the ITA transmitting station were aware of the crash. [ [http://archive.thisislancashire.co.uk/2005/1/1/452250.html Survivors relive Winter Hill crash horror] Retrieved on 2008-02-12] Several feet of snow hampered rescue efforts, and a snow cat vehicle had to be diverted from the A6 to cut a path for emergency vehicles though the track had been cleared by people using spades by the time it arrived.

Background

The flight was essentially a charter flight from Ronaldsway Airport in the Isle of Man to Manchester Ringway Airport for a group of mainly Motor Traders to visit the Manchester Exide Battery Factory and Manchester car show. ["Rough Landing or Fatal Flight. A history of aircraft accidents on, or over and around the Isle of Man" by Steve Poole pp141 (1999)(1st Edition) Manx Heritage Foundation Amulree Publications ISDN 1 901508 03X]

The crash

(G-AICS), call sign 'Charlie Sierra' was due to fly from Ronaldsway Airport, Ballasalla in the Isle of Man to a aircraft reporting point at Squire's Gate about convert|3|mi|km from Blackpool. The aircraft was flown by Captain Cairnes at an altitude of convert|1500|ft|m due to low cloud and other air traffic in the Manchester area. After gaining clearance from Air-Traffic Control at Manchester Ringway Airport, Captain Cairnes flew 'Charlie Sierra' inland to Wigan Beacon a non-directional beacon in the Manchester Zone which transmitted a recognition signal of 'MYK' in morse code on a frequency of 316 kilocycles and a range of about convert|25|mi|km. ["Rough Landing or Fatal Flight. A history of aircraft accidents on, or over and around the Isle of Man" by Steve Poole pp141 (1999)(1st Edition) Manx Heritage Foundation Amulree Publications ISDN 1 901508 03X] Due to a number of navigation errors in respect to the radio compass bearings and altitude readings the Silver City Bristol Freighter crashed near the summit of Winter Hill, five miles (8 km) south-east of Chorley, Lancashire at 0945 am on the 27th February 1958.

Fatalities

Isle of Man motor trade

* Thomas Adams, Corner Garage, Ramsey.
* John Cannan Bridson, The Garage, Ballaugh.
* Norman Hull Brown, Onchan.
* Ralph Caine, Austin Dealer, Laxey.
* William Ralph Caine, Crossbie, Cain & Kennish Ltd, Douglas.
* Thomas Edward Christian, Salisbury Garage, Douglas.
* David Charles Corlett, The Lhen Garage.
* William Neville Corlett, The Lhen Garage.
* G.W. 'Willie' Corlett, Ramsey Motors Ltd.
* Robert Corkill, Corkill's Garage, Onchan.
* James William Crellin, Salisbury Garage, Douglas.
* John Crennell, Crennells Garage, Ramsey.
* Arthur Gleave, Ramsey Motor's Ltd.
* Thomas Joseph Gilbertson, Agent for Riley, Alvia and Blanke & Lanz.
* William Harding, Motor-Cycle Dealer.
* Douglas Charles Harding, Motor-Cycle Dealer.
* David Malcolm Howarth, Ramsey Motors Ltd.
* George Selwyn Lace, Empire Garage Ltd, Peel.
* Frank Leece, Orry Motors.
* John Harold Lindsay, Dealer for Standard Cars and Triumph.
* William Arthur Tonkin, Ramsey Motors Ltd.
* Thomas Williams, Corkill's Garage, Onchan.

Other fatalities

* Ted Partington, Isle of Man Water Board
* Thomas Arthur Callow, Transport Manager, Clucas Laundry Ltd, Braddan.
* Raymond Clague, Douglas Hackney Owners Association.
* Sergeant Jack Cretney, Isle of Man Constabulary
* Louis Arthur Cowin, Clucas Laundry Ltd, Braddan.
* J.Douglas Craine, Maintenance Superintendent, Douglas Corporation Transport.
* John Wade Fargher, Hackney Licence, Peel.
* Victor James McMahon, T.G.McMahon Ltd, Ballasalla.
* William Russell Moore, Assistant Civil Defence Officer, Isle of Man Civil Defence
* John Parker, Corlett Sons & Cowley Ltd.
* Charles Edward Staley.
* Thomas Alma Watts.

urvivors

Crew members

* Captain E.M.H.Cairnes, Pilot.
* First Officer William Howarth, Navigator.
* Jennifer Curtis, Stewardess.

Other survivors

* James Crosbie, Crosbie, Cain & Kennish Ltd, Douglas.
* William N.Ennett.
* Fredrick Kennish, Crosbie, Cain & Kennish Ltd, Douglas
* Harold Williamson, Isle of Man Electricity Board

ources