HC Deb 03 November 1993 vol 231 cc288-9W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the dates of all major accidents to Harrier aircraft since its entry into British military service providing, in each case, an indication of whether the cause was(a) aircrew error, (b) servicing error, (c) natural, operating and medical causes, (d) technical failure or (e) not positively determined; and which of the accidents occurred during low-level flying.

Mr. Hanley

The information requested is as follows:

Date Type 1Cause 2Low flying
6 June 1979 Harrier GR3 AE No
12 June 1979 Harrier GR3 TF No
18 July 1979 Harrier GR3 AE Yes
21 September 1979 Harrier GR3 x2 AE 3No
4 October 1979 Harrier GR3 NOM Yes
8 November 1979 Harrier GR3 NOM No
12 March 1980 Harrier GR3 NOM Yes
14 October 1980 Harrier GR3 TF No
28 October 1980 Harrier GR3 NOM Yes
1 December 1980 Sea Harrier FRS1 AE No
26 May 1981 Harrier GR3 AE No
14 July 1981 Harrier GR3 NPD Yes
25 August 1981 Harrier GR3 SE Yes
12 February 1982 Harrier GR3 NPD Yes
6 May 1982 Sea Harrier FRS1 NOM No
6 May 1982 Sea Harrier FRS1 NOM No
23 May 1982 Sea Harrier FRS1 NPD No
29 May 1982 Sea Harrier FRS1 NOM No
8 June 1982 Harrier GR3 NPD No
29 June 1982 Harrier T4 AE No
6 November 1982 Harrier GR3 TF No
21 January 1983 Sea Harrier FRS1 AE No
23 February 1983 Harrier T4 and GR3 AE 4No
22 March 1983 Harrier GR3 NPD No
3 May 1983 Harrier GR3 SE No
14 June 1983 Sea Harrier FRS1 NPD No
20 October 1983 Sea Harrier FRS1 TF No

Date Type 1Cause 2Low flying
28 October 1983 Harrier GR3 NPD No
19 November 1983 Harrier GR3 NPD No
16 March 1984 Sea Harrier FRS1 TF No
3 June 1984 Harrier GR3 TF No
29 November 1984 Harrier GR3 NOM Yes
1 December 1984 Sea Harrier FRS1 NOM Yes
7 February 1985 Sea Harrier T4 AE No
18 February 1985 Harrier T4 NOM 5Yes
19 November 1985 Harrier GR3 NOM No
16 April 1986 Sea Harrier FRS1 AE No
17 June 1986 Harrier GR3 TF No
28 June 1986 Harrier GR3 AE No
15 October 1987 Sea Harrier FRS1 NOM Yes
2 November 1987 Harrier GR3 x2 AE 6No
20 May 1988 Harrier GR3 AE No
18 August 1988 Harrier GR3 NPD No
20 June 1989 Harrier T4 AE No
4 October 1989 Sea Harrier FRS1 AE No
29 October 1989 Sea Harrier FRS1 SE No
1 December 1989 Sea Harrier FRS1 TF No
8 May 1990 Sea Harrier FRS1 AE No
17 October 1990 Harrier GR5 SE No
10 May 1991 Sea Harrier FRS 1 NPD Yes
29 May 1991 Harrier GR7 TF No
25 September 1991 Harrier T4 NOM Yes
30 September 1991 Harrier GR5 AE No
14 May 1992 Harrier GR3 NOM No
28 May 1992 Sea Harrier FRS1 NPD No
7 August 1992 Harrier GR5 TF No
28 June 1993 Harrier GR7 NYD Yes
1 AE — Air crew error.

SE — Servicing error.

NOM — Natural, operating and medical hazards.

TF — Technical failure.

NPD — Not positively determined.

NYD — Not yet determined (board of inquiry not yet complete).
2 Low flying column: Indicates whether the aircraft was engaged in low-flying (raining or not, it does not include accidents during take-off or landing or during low-level aerobatics displays.
3 Mid-air collision involving two Harrier GR3s.
4 Mid-air collision involving Hairier T4 and Harrier GR3.
5 Mid-air collision involving Harrier GR3 and German Federal Marine F104 aircraft.
6 Mid-air collision involving two Harrier GR3s.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the accident to a Harrier GR7 aircraft on 28 June.

Mr. Hanley

The report of the RAF board of inquiry into this accident is not yet complete. A summary of the board's findings will be published in due course.