§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the President of the Board of Trade what report he has received from his Chief Inspector of Accidents on the cause of the crash of the British Midland Viscount aircraft at Manchester Airport earlier this year; and if he will now make a further statement.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsThe Chief Inspector of Accidents has not yet submitted his report; his investigation is continuing. However, he has established that the co-pilot was carrying out an exercise involving a simulated engine failure during take-off under the supervision of an experienced training captain. Shortly after an apparently normal lift-off control of the aircraft was lost, with the result that it rolled on to its back, diving to the ground in an inverted attitude. So far no explanation for the aircraft getting beyond the control of the pilots has been found.
A detailed examination of the wreckage has failed to reveal any technical defect or pre-crash mechanical failure. It is now known that the flight data recorder was not functioning during the take-off. The absence of any evidence from this important source is severely hampering the investigation.
The Chief Inspector is in consultation with the manufacturers and the Royal 97W Aircraft Establishment in an endeavour to determine reasons for the loss of control occurring shortly after the aircraft became airborne. However, from the limited evidence available he considers that at present it appears unlikely that a complete explanation of the cause of this accident will be established. In view of the difficulties facing the investigators, it will be some time before he will be in a position to submit his report.