Incident Overview
A light aircraft on a five-minute local pleasure flight was approaching London Airport for landing on runway 23L. The aircraft was following a Boeing 377 Stratocruiser that had just landed on the same runway. During its final approach, at a point between the beginning of the runway approach lighting and the Bath Road, the aircraft encountered turbulent air at an altitude of 300 feet.
Loss of Control and Crash
The pilot lost control of the aircraft, which subsequently crashed just inside the aerodrome boundary, approximately 475 yards from the threshold of runway 23L. Upon impact with the ground, the nose of the aircraft disintegrated, and the pilot was thrown from the wreckage, sustaining severe injuries. Of the eight passengers on board, five received injuries of a lesser degree.
Official Findings
The probable cause of the accident was determined to be loss of control on final approach caused by the wake turbulence created by the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser that had just landed on the same runway.
Aftermath
The incident resulted in injuries to the pilot and five passengers. The aircraft was substantially damaged in the crash. No further details regarding the aircraft type, registration, or the condition of the remaining passengers were provided in the official report.