This Moormanair C-47 was chartered to fly Ajax football supporters back to the Netherlands on 3 June 1971. Following a fall in manifold pressure and an oil leak in the starboard engine soon after a night takeoff, the pilot decided to return to Southend Airport for an emergency landing. In order to avoid an undershoot he used 15 degrees of flap for the landing which resulted in a higher than normal airspeed at touchdown. The aircraft touched down about half-way along the runway in use, overran the paved area and collided with an earth bank. Seen here on the dump 11 months later.

This photo is copyright © Terry Dann, and may not be used or published in any way without permission.

It was added on 25 May 2022, and has since been viewed 284 times.