§ Mr. Dorrellasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will make a statement about the accident to the Dan Air HS748, registration G-ASPL, near Nailstone on 26 June.
§ Mr. EyreMy Department is issuing the following special bulletin
Accident to Dan-Air BAe 748 G-ASPL near Nailstone on 26 June 1981The aircraft was en route from Gatwick to East Midlands airport in good weather conditions carrying Post Office mail with a crew comprised of two pilots and one postal assistant.At about 1810 hours the pilot transmitted a distress call indicating that the aircraft had suffered a violent decompression, possibly due to the loss of a rear cabin door and that severe control problems were being encountered. Shortly afterwards both wings and the port tailplane and elevator became detached. The fuselage with the fin, rudder, starboard tailplane and elevator still in position dived steeply into the ground near the village of Nailstone, some 11 miles from East Midlands airport. The three crew members were killed instantly. There was no fire damage to the fuselage structure; however, a fuel fed fire developed in the wings and engines.The flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder were recovered from the wreckage and good quality read-outs from both have been obtained. No evidence has come to light of any explosive device having detonated inside the aircraft.Preliminary examination of the aircraft wreckage showed that the starboard rear cabin service door had become detached in flight and had struck the starboard tailplane leading to a loss of control and subsequent overstressing of the aircraft. The reasons for the separation of the door have yet to be established.The Chief Inspector of Accidents has ordered an inspector's investigation into this accident.