Avro 504 | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The pilot was performing a local solo training flight on formation with a second RAF Avro 504N registered K1050. While changing direction, K1050 collided with K1042. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field near the airbase. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of an Avro 504N near RAF Wittering: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1932

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Registration:

K1050

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Wittering AFB - Wittering AFB

MSN:

K1050

Location:

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Circumstances:

The pilot was performing a local solo training flight on formation with a second RAF Avro 504N registered K1042. While changing direction, K1050 collided with K1042. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field near the airbase. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of an Avro 504N in Waterfoot: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1932

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Registration:

K1253

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Belfast - Belfast

MSN:

K1253

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Circumstances:

The pilot departed Belfast-Aldergrove Airport on a local training sortie. While cruising northwest of Belfast at low altitude, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Cloughcorr located near Waterfoot. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot John Frederick Sutton of the 502th Squadron was killed.

Crash of an Avro 504N in East Winch: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1932 at 1300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Registration:

K2352

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Digby – Marham – Bircham Newton

MSN:

K2352

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Circumstances:

The pilot was performing his first solo flight from RAF Digby to RAF Bircham Newton with an intermediate stop at RAF Marham. Aircraft left RAF Digby at 1145LT bound for RAF Marham. On approach to Marham, at a height of 200-300 feet, he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in flames in a field. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and postcrash fire and the pilot was killed. The pilot A. J. Warford-Mein was a 23 years old Australian pupil who arrives at RAF Digby last January. He was fully competent, and the flight was authorized by the chief flying instructor, in addition to the pupil’s own instructor.

Probable cause:

Leslie Ruskin, a team man, employed at Home Farm, East Winch, which adjoins Station Farm, said that about 1.30 on Thursday afternoon, he and another man were working in a meadow when they saw an aeroplane hovering over a field nearby. It circled three times as if looking for a landing place. It turned towards Ashwicken and then came round into the wind and dropped suddenly in a nose dive. They ran towards it and saw it crash. He thought the machine was 200 or 300 feet up when it crashed. It was blazing when they got to it, and almost burnt up. They heard the sound of an explosion. The pilot’s body was in the middle of the flames and there was no sign of life at all. They had to wait until the flames died down before they could get the body out. He had noticed nothing wrong with the machine before it crashed, only that the pilot was looking for a landing. A very strong wind was blowing at this time and it had started to rain.

Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 504N near RAF Wittering: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1932

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Registration:

J8568

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Wittering - Wittering

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training sortie out from RAF Wittering. While flying in the vicinity of the airbase, the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field located in Pilsgate. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Joseph Ivan Richardson,
Sgt Noel William Nicholls.

Crash of an Avro 504 in Elsenborn

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1931

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Registration:

A-59

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 3,300 metres, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field. Both pilots were rescued.

Probable cause:

Loss of control in flight following the failure of a rudder control cable.

Crash of an Avro 504K off Scarborough

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1931

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Northern Air Transport

Registration:

G-EBKB

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

E2969

YOM:

1924

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Circumstances:

The single engine aircraft crashed for unknown reason into the sea off Scarborough. Both occupants were rescued.

Crash of an Avro 504K in Dovercourt

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1931

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Kent Aircraft Services

Registration:

G-AAUL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bekesbourne - Bekesbourne

MSN:

KAS.3

YOM:

1930

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Circumstances:

The pilot departed Bekesbourne on a solo training flight. While completing aerobatic manoeuvres, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field located in Dovercourt. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured.

Crash of an Avro 504K off Swansea

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1931

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Robert Henry Thomas

Registration:

G-AASS

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Swansea - Swansea

MSN:

F2540

YOM:

1919

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The pilot departed Swansea on a local joyride. The single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances at low tide in the Swansea Bay. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot was injured.