1956-11-23: Vickers Valetta (VX525) — Royal Air Force - RAF — Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

7 fatalitiesCameron Highlands, MalaysiaFlight

A military transport aircraft crashed into mountainous terrain in the Cameron Highlands after encountering deteriorating weather conditions during a supply flight.

What happened

While performing a supply mission for 48th Squadron troops stationed in the Cameron Highlands, the crew encountered worsening weather. Due to these deteriorating conditions, the captain decided to abort the planned cargo drop and began an approach back to their home base.

During the flight, while maintaining an altitude of approximately 1,500 feet over a mountainous region, the pilot attempted a left-hand turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft stalled and descended into a heavily forested area. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. There were seven fatalities among the crew members on board.

Findings

Investigations into the accident suggest that the pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed while executing the turn. This lack of sufficient velocity led directly to the aerodynamic stall that preceded the crash.

Probable cause

The aircraft entered a stall because the pilot initiated a turn without maintaining enough airspeed.