No fatalities

Training Flight Ends in Overrun After Propeller Pitch Failure at RAF Kinloss (WX511)

Kinloss, United KingdomTakeoff (climb)

On January 22, 1957, a Lockheed P-2 Neptune (registration WX511) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Kinloss, United Kingdom during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

During a local training flight at RAF Kinloss, the propellers failed to go into fine pitch on takeoff. The captain aborted, applied emergency braking, and raised the undercarriage, but only the nose wheel retracted. The twin-engine aircraft overran and was damaged beyond repair; all eight crew members were uninjured.

Incident Overview

A twin-engine aircraft conducting a local training flight at RAF Kinloss experienced a critical malfunction during takeoff. The crew was performing touch-and-go exercises when, on takeoff, the propellers failed to go into fine pitch. The captain immediately aborted the takeoff procedure and initiated an emergency braking maneuver.

Actions Taken

As the aircraft decelerated, the captain selected the undercarriage up. However, only the nose wheel retracted; the main landing gear remained extended. The aircraft subsequently overran the runway and came to rest in an adjacent field.

Outcome and Damage

All eight crew members on board were uninjured. The aircraft, however, sustained substantial damage and was considered beyond repair. The specific type and registration of the aircraft were not disclosed in the source material.

No further details regarding the time of day, weather conditions, or air traffic control involvement were provided. The investigation into the propeller pitch failure and the partial gear retraction has not been summarized in the source.