East of Scotland Aviation Research
Percival Pembroke WV737
Remains of WV737. Tail section in foreground engine and prop in
background.
The Pembroke took off from East Fortune to proceed to
RAF Leuchars on 26th of May 1961 after flying from a NATO meeting
in Paris with Air Vice Marshall R.B. Thompson and Air Vice Marshall R.H.
Wright both men had just been set down at East Fortune.
Soon after take off at around 2,000ft that problem started, with
North Berwick in view, only a short distance from the airfield, the port
engine caught fire and blew up. The pilot, Flt Lt Munn, look out of the
cockpit and found that the engine cowling and parts of the engine were
missing and the engine was still burning. The pilot decided to crash land
as soon as possible and with that he turned the aircraft hard to port to
avoid crossing the coast and getting into even more danger. While doing
this he closed both throttles (closing the starboard throttle by mistake)
and started a rapid descent. The aircraft crash landed in a corn field
close to Newhouse farm (near North Berwick) and only minor injuries were
received by the pilot and co-pilot.
Five minutes after leaving the aircraft the port inboard fuel tank
exploded and the entire fuselage was gutted.
This is how a Pembroke should look.
This particular Pembroke is at the Gatwick
Aviation Museum
The official accident report says :-
Prime cause of the accident was Engine failure.
This failure was caused by a hydraulic lock which took place only a short
time before the failure. This was not found on the ground prior to take
off due to a failure by the Pilot to comply with instructions in the relevant
Aircraft Procedures. Contributary Hydraulic lock in No. 6 cylinder caused
the break up in flight of the port engine.
AIRCRAFT DETAILS
Aircraft type:- PERCIVAL PEMBROKE
Serial No.:- WV737 Group:- 18
Base:- Turnhouse
A Pembroke in flight.
thanks to Nick Challoner for this photo.See more of his Photographs
here
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