25 April 2024
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Viscount Survivors


59 of the 444 Viscounts built survive as complete airframes or major components. Some are in very good condition and are looked after by museums while others are just wrecks. They can be found in 24 countries.

Viscount history


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Established 2005
Vickers Viscount Network
A Virtual Museum dedicated to the Vickers-Armstrongs VC2 Viscount
   

Viscount c/n 337

Operational Record

Photo of Viscount c/n 337
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)


Pakistan flag Pakistan

This V.815 series Viscount was built for
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) as AP-AJE

It first flew on Sunday, 15 February 1959 at Hurn, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England powered by Rolls-Royce Dart 525 engines.


Photo of Viscount c/n 337
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)


Pakistan flag Pakistan

Its final owner/operator was
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) as AP-AJE.

Its fate:-
Crashed while crew training at Karachi Airport, Pakistan 14 August 1959 just five months after being delivered.


Operational record
Photo of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Viscount AP-AJE

Country of Registration Pakistan

March 1959 to August 1959

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)

AP-AJE - c/n 337 - a V.815 series Viscount
Pakistan registered

15 February 1959
First flight from Hurn Airport, Bournemouth, Hampshire, England.

4 March 1959
Noted at Blackbushe Airport, Hampshire, England carrying out Instrument Landing System (ILS) approaches.

17 March 1959
Delivered to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) fitted with extended range 'slipper' fuel tanks.

The PIA titles were in Urdu script on the port side and Bengali script on the starboard side of the fuselage.

Later named as 'City of Dacca'. Was the name ever applied to this aircraft before it crashed?

Details please to information@vickersviscount.net

14 August 1959
Crashed while crew training at Karachi Airport, Pakistan just five months after being delivered.

The aircraft took off from Karachi at 14:30 GMT for a training flight, returned at 16:39 and took off again at 16:48 for further training. At 17:07 the crew were cleared to land. The aircraft (probably carrying out an ILS approach) was not properly lined up with the runway, so a go-around was carried out. During the second approach the aircraft was seen flying very low over the runway with No.3 and No.4 engines feathered. During the overshoot, the Viscount yawed almost 90 degrees to starboard, causing the right wing to strike a blast pen wall. The aircraft then crashed in flames.

Of the 3 crew on board 2 sadly died in the crash.

PROBABLE CAUSE:
The trainee captain attempted a manoeuvre in disregard of the prescribed limitations of such a manoeuvre. A two-engine overshoot was attempted at a very low height and below the prescribed minimum speed, when the aircraft was committed to a landing. This resulted in a violent yaw and sharp drop in altitude which could not be controlled. The training captain was conversant with the minimum requirements of a two-engine overshoot of the aircraft but appears to have over-estimated the aircraft's performance.

Total time 974 hours and 700 total landings.


Photo of BEA - British European Airways Viscount G-AOJC

The Vickers Viscount Network is always interested to hear from anyone who has information or photographs to help complete the story of the Viscount. If you can help please contact us at
Information@VickersViscount.net.


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This website has been designed, built and is maintained by Geoff Blampied, Norwich, Norfolk, England.