Ariana Afghan Airlines Flight 701

Ariana Afghan Airlines Flight 701 was a scheduled international flight involved in an aviation accident on 5 January 1969. The incident involved a Boeing 727 aircraft, carrying 62 individuals, that crashed into a residential property during its approach to London Gatwick Airport amidst heavy fog. The accident was primarily attributed to pilot error, specifically the failure to extend the flaps to maintain flight at the final approach speed.

The accident occurred at 01:35 on a Sunday morning, a time when the Gatwick area was enveloped in patches of dense, freezing fog. The Boeing 727, registered as YA-FAR (the sole aircraft of this model in the airline's fleet), descended below its correct glide slope as it approached the airport from the east. As the aircraft traversed over the small hamlet of Fernhill, located on the Surrey/Sussex border, it struck trees and rooftops, initiating a roll and subsequently crashing into a field south of Fernhill Lane. This location was approximately 1.5 mi short of the runway. Following the initial impact, the aircraft collided with a large detached house, resulting in its complete demolition and the ignition of a fire.

The incident resulted in the death of 48 passengers and crew members. Additionally, two adult residents of the demolished house lost their lives due to the impact. An infant present in the house survived the incident with only minor injuries. The flight's captain, first officer, flight engineer, and eleven passengers also survived the crash.

Accident

Flight FG 701 from Kabul International Airport to Gatwick Airport was a weekly scheduled service which stopped intermediately at Kandahar, Istanbul, and Frankfurt. A crew change also took place at Beirut, at which point Captain Nowroz, First Officer Attayee and Flight Engineer Formuly took charge.

Weather in the Gatwick area overnight on 4–5 January 1969 was poor. There was heavy, freezing fog, although the airport remained open. (International regulations require airports to remain open irrespective of ground conditions, in case of emergencies.) The fog had persisted since the previous day, and although it had cleared from most of southeast England some patches remained at Gatwick at a height of no more than 250 ft. The Captain was given weather reports which indicated that visibility varied between 50 m and 500 m, the air temperature was -3 C and freezing fog was predominant. Reports for London Stansted Airport (the designated alternate destination for this flight) and London Heathrow Airport indicated much clearer conditions, and the flight could also have returned to Frankfurt as enough fuel was carried. (The accident report determined that about 9000 kg was left when the aircraft crashed.)

As the aircraft approached Fernhill and was within 1+1/2 mi of Gatwick's runway, it clipped the top of some oak trees in the garden of a house called Twinyards on Peeks Brook Lane. This was about 500 yd from the point of impact on the ground. It then left tyre marks on the roof of the neighbouring house and knocked chimney-pots off the house opposite, a further 264 ft on. At this point the aircraft was only 40 ft off the ground. It then caught a television aerial and another group of trees, damaging components on the right-side wing. As it started to roll, the aircraft's wheels touched down briefly and it started to rise again. It failed to clear Longfield, a detached house owned by William and Ann Jones which stood 300 yd further west, and completely destroyed it. One engine landed in the wreckage of the house along with the rear section of the fuselage, while the forward section of the aircraft disintegrated over a 1395 ft trail. The fuel spilt and immediately caught fire, engulfing the fuselage and the wreckage of the house. The Joneses were killed, but their baby survived with minor injuries: the sides of her cot collapsed inwards, "forming a protective tent under one of the engines".

Residents of Peeks Brook Lane were the first to arrive at the crash site and to contact the emergency services. The first call was received at 0138 at Surrey Police's control room, and officers were dispatched from Horley police station. The first officers arrived seven minutes later, soon followed by PC Keith Simmonds of Oxted station who was on traffic duty that night and who saved the injured baby from the wrecked house. The fire services were also summoned at 0138, and vehicles arrived from 0156 onwards. Surrey and Sussex Fire Brigades sent 20 vehicles to the scene, and more were supplied from the airport by the British Airports Authority. Board of Trade accident investigators led by George Kelly also went to the scene. Despite a considerable police presence, their efforts were affected by onlookers obstructing them in the narrow lanes. Police blocks were set up at both ends of Fernhill Lane, and other officers were stationed at Antlands Lane diverting traffic away from Balcombe Road.