On August 17, 1978, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration G-AMSM) operated by Skyways Cargo Airline was involved in an aviation accident near Lydd, United Kingdom during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's attempt to correct a leftward drift led to an overcorrection and subsequent runway excursion. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
An aircraft veered off the runway during its takeoff roll, resulting in structural damage and an engine fire, though all occupants escaped without injury.
What happened
During the initial takeoff phase, the aircraft began to drift toward the left side of the active runway. In an attempt to correct this deviation, the co-pilot applied steering inputs that caused the plane to swing sharply to the right. This maneuver resulted in the aircraft exiting the runway at a 20-degree angle, briefly becoming partially airborne.
As the crew attempted to navigate around a windsock mast located ahead of their path, the left wing made contact with the surface of intersecting runway 14. Following this impact, the plane returned to the ground and slid across the pavement until it reached a complete stop. The friction or mechanical stress during the excursion triggered an oil fire within the right engine.
Findings
The incident was driven by an overcorrection by the co-pilot following an initial leftward deviation.
All three occupants successfully evacuated the aircraft without sustaining any injuries.
While there were no human casualties, the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Probable cause
The pilot's attempt to correct a leftward drift led to an overcorrection and subsequent runway excursion.
