Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat accident at Ouroux, France, 24 Mar 1937 (G-ADVA)
On March 24, 1937, a Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat (registration G-ADVA) operated by Imperial Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Ouroux, France in flight. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain following a navigational error due to zero visibility in snow falls. The crew thought he was overflying the Saône Valley when the accident occurred. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Probable cause
Controlled flight into terrain following a navigational error due to zero visibility in snow falls. The crew thought he was overflying the Saône Valley when the accident occurred.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
The float plane departed Southampton at 1150LT on a flight to Durban with intermediate stops in Brindisi, Mirabella and Alexandria. On board were one passenger, five crew members and a load of mail, four boxes with 160 kg of gold, one box of gemstone et tree bags of bank notes from the National British and Egyptian Banks. While overflying the Morvan Mountain Range, the radio navigator contacted ground control in Lyon-Bron to obtain a position briefing. While flying in snow falls, the four engine aircraft named 'Capricornus' deviated from the flight plan then impacted two pine trees and crashed near Ouroux, some 20 km southwest of Mâcon. The radio navigator survived and walked few km to find help. When he returned to the aircraft, he found that all five other occupants were killed. Crew: A. Paterson, pilot, G. E. Klein, copilot, Denis R. O'Brien, flight clerk, James L. Cooper, radio navigator, F. A. E. Jeffcoate, steward. Passenger: Beatrix 'Betty' Mercy Coats.
Probable cause (official findings): Controlled flight into terrain following a navigational error due to zero visibility in snow falls. The crew thought he was overflying the Saône Valley when the accident occurred.