Princess Anne Hovercraft Accident

The Untold Story of the SRN-4 Princess Anne Hovercraft Damaged by Storms

The SRN-4 Princess Anne Hovercraft

The SRN-4 Princess Anne was a passenger hovercraft that capsized in gale force winds on the English Channel on October 20, 1978. The hovercraft was carrying 27 people at the time of the accident, and all of them were rescued. The Princess Anne was built by British Hovercraft Corporation (BHC) and was launched in 1968. The hovercraft was 114 feet long and 39 feet wide, and it was powered by four gas turbine engines. The Princess Anne could carry up to 386 passengers and 32 cars.

The Accident

On October 20, 1978, the Princess Anne was traveling from Portsmouth, England, to Ryde, Isle of Wight, when it was caught in a storm. The winds were gusting up to 70 miles per hour, and the waves were reaching heights of 10 feet. The Princess Anne began to take on water, and the crew was unable to control the hovercraft. The hovercraft capsized and sank in about 15 minutes. All of the passengers and crew were rescued by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

The Investigation

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigated the accident and found that the Princess Anne had been damaged by the storm. The MAIB also found that the hovercraft had not been properly maintained. The MAIB made a number of recommendations to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future. These recommendations included: * Requiring hovercraft to be inspected more frequently * Improving the training of hovercraft crews * Developing new safety equipment for hovercraft

The Legacy of the Princess Anne

The Princess Anne accident was a tragedy, but it also led to a number of important safety improvements for hovercraft. The MAIB's recommendations have helped to make hovercraft safer, and they continue to be used today to transport passengers and cargo around the world.

Two Famous Hovercraft Set to be Destroyed in Hampshire

Two famous hovercraft, the Princess Margaret and the Princess Anne, are set to be destroyed in Hampshire. The hovercraft have been in storage for many years, and they are now in a state of disrepair. The Princess Margaret was built in 1965 and was the first hovercraft to cross the English Channel. The Princess Anne was built in 1968 and was the largest hovercraft in the world at the time. Both hovercraft were retired from service in the early 1980s. They have been stored in Hampshire ever since. The hovercraft are now in a state of disrepair. The hulls are rusted, and the engines are no longer working. The hovercraft are also missing many of their parts. The hovercraft are set to be destroyed in a controlled explosion. The explosion will take place at a quarry in Hampshire. The destruction of the hovercraft is a sad day for hovercraft enthusiasts. However, the hovercraft are now beyond repair, and they pose a safety hazard. The destruction of the hovercraft will help to make the area safer for the public.