What happened
A charter flight traveling from Dublin to RAF Llandow was transporting a group of passengers traveling to attend a Five Nations Tournament rugby match between Ireland and Wales. While the four-engine aircraft was on final approach to the airfield, it was flying at an altitude of approximately 150 feet. During this phase, the pilot applied additional power, causing the plane to ascend to 300 feet. The aircraft then entered a steep 35-degree nose-up attitude and subsequently lost airspeed, leading to a stall. The aircraft crashed into a field situated roughly 2,500 feet before reaching the threshold of runway 28.
The accident resulted in 80 fatalities, comprising all five crew members and 75 passengers. While three passengers were successfully rescued from the wreckage, the scale of the loss made it one of the most significant aviation disasters recorded at that time.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified that the aircraft's loading configuration was a critical factor. The weight distribution resulted in a center of gravity that was positioned too far toward the rear, exceeding the limits specified in the aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness. This imbalance caused insufficient elevator control during low-speed operations and created acute instability. Additionally, the experience level of the pilot in command was noted as a contributing factor to the event.