Accident Overview
On a daylight scheduled public transport flight from Cherbourg, France, to Guernsey, the aircraft attempted to land in conditions of low cloud. The captain missed the approach and initiated a go-around by increasing engine power. However, the aircraft failed to gain altitude.
Accident Sequence
During the go-around, the aircraft veered to the right. The starboard propeller was observed rotating slowly. The aircraft flew a short distance before the starboard wing struck the ground, causing the aircraft to cartwheel. The passenger cabin separated from the main wreckage, which subsequently caught fire.
Casualties
Both pilots were killed in the accident. The steward and all seven passengers aboard sustained serious injuries.
Probable Cause
The probable cause, as determined by the official investigation, was the malfunctioning of the automatic pitch coarsening unit of the starboard propeller. This malfunction deprived the captain of the necessary degree of control of the aircraft at a critical stage of the flight.
Time and Location
The accident occurred at 1416 local time during the landing attempt at Guernsey.