No fatalities

Cargo Aircraft Crash Near Largs Due to Altimeter Failure (G-ACYK)

Largs, United KingdomFlight

On January 14, 1938, a Spartan Cruiser (registration G-ACYK) operated by Northern & Scottish Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Largs, United Kingdom in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain resulting from an altimeter malfunction. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A three-engine cargo plane crashed into a hillside near Largs after weather forced a return to Glasgow. Both pilots survived with minor injuries following the altimeter malfunction.

What happened

The aircraft departed Glasgow in the late afternoon for a scheduled cargo run to Campbelltown, carrying a load of movie spools. During the flight, deteriorating weather conditions prompted the crew to initiate a return to the departure airport. While attempting to navigate back through poor visibility, the airplane descended too low and struck the slope of Mt Stake near Largs, Ayrshire.

The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft. Both members of the flight crew sustained minor injuries but were able to walk away from the wreckage site to seek assistance. The incident involved a three-engine machine operating as a freighter.

Findings

Investigation into the accident determined that the crash was caused by a controlled flight into terrain. This outcome followed an altimeter malfunction which likely misled the crew regarding their altitude during the approach in reduced visibility conditions.

Probable cause

Controlled flight into terrain resulting from an altimeter malfunction.