Synopsis:
A training flight for the purpose of conversion of Aer Lingus cadet pilots to Viscount aircraft departed Dublin Airport 0644 G.M.T., 22 June 1967, with I.F.R. clearance from Air Traffic Control for training flight in the sector north-west of Dublin Airport. The pilot-instructor said his intention was to spend two hours in this sector and then to practise circuits and landings at the airport for one hour.
The aircraft climbed to its assigned flight level and obtained two revised clearances, for higher levels, from A.T.C. at 0656 and 0707 G.M.T. Its last transmission to A.T.C. was an acknowledgement of the last clearance, at 0708 G.M.T.
At 0743 G.M.T. a telephone call from Ashbourne post office informed A.T.C. that an aeroplane had crashed two miles north of Ashbourne. Immediate radio-telephone calls were made to EI-AOF, without response; and full emergency procedures were initiated. Another Viscount training flight practising circuits at the airport was despatched at 0746 G.M.T. to make a search. The pilot sighted the wreckage of EI-AOF at 0751 and information on its position was given to the airport Fire Service.
Eye-witnesses stated that EI-AOF had hit the ground in a nearly-vertical attitude after diving from comparatively level flight at a low altitude and that violent fire and several explosions followed impact.
The three occupants-a training captain and two cadet pilots-were killed at impact.
