1952-08-02: Vickers Valetta (VX540) — Royal Air Force - RAF — Hulu Langat, Malaysia

7 fatalitiesHulu Langat, MalaysiaFlight

A twin-engine aircraft crashed into a hilltop while performing a low-altitude supply mission for SAS troops in Malaysia.

What happened

During a logistics operation intended to deliver supplies to SAS personnel stationed within the Hulu Langat Forest Reserve, a twin engine aircraft impacted the summit of a hill. The flight was being conducted at a low altitude as part of its mission parameters when the collision occurred.

As a result of the impact, there were seven fatalities, with all members of the crew lost in the accident.

Findings

Investigations involving British Army officials highlighted the extreme difficulty of navigating mountainous terrain under such conditions. The report noted that operating this specific aircraft type in areas prone to turbulence leaves almost no margin for error. Furthermore, investigators pointed out that the aircraft's performance capabilities are significantly reduced if an engine failure occurs during such low-level operations, suggesting a potential loss of power may have contributed to the inability to clear the terrain.

Probable cause

The narrow margin for error when flying in mountainous, turbulent conditions and the potential for reduced performance due to an engine malfunction.