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Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth into the sea of Japan

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1931
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Tozai Teiki Kokukai
Registration:
J-BAWA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
2128
YOM:
1931
Location:
Japan Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was engaged in an aerial photography mission on behalf of the Tozai Teiki Kokukai Company (East-West Regular Air Transport Association). The aircraft named 'Ruri' crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea of Japan and sank. The pilot was rescued.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth in Verneuil-sur-Avre: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1931
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Harold Ashley Brock
Registration:
G-ABBH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Heston – Le Mans
MSN:
2005
YOM:
1930
Location:
Verneuil-sur-Avre
Eure
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Heston to Le Mans, the aircraft encountered a gale. The pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a field. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Harold Ashley Brock, pilot and owner.
Passenger:
John Robertson.
Probable cause:
Loss of control due to gale.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth on Mt Tandjiesberg: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1931 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Glenn L. Bateman
Registration:
ZS-ACC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Johannesburg – Pietermaritzburg
MSN:
2058
YOM:
1930
Location:
Mt Tandjiesberg
Free State
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was owned by Glenn L. Bateman and piloted by Lieutenant Glen Kidston and Captain Thomas Anthony Gladstone. They were looking for a new route from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg. While cruising at an altitude of 300 metres, the aircraft entered clouds, lost a wing and crashed in a rocky area located on Mt Tandjiesberg, some 25 km northeast from Harrismith, Free State. Both occupants were killed and the lost wing was found 183 metres from the main wreckage.
Probable cause:
A wing failed in flight, most probably due to atmospheric turbulences encountered in the cloudy area.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in the Darling Range: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Wings Ltd
Registration:
VH-UPC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Maylands - Maylands
MSN:
2021
YOM:
1930
Location:
Perth
Western Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While flying over the Darling Range, the aircraft went out of control, enetered a dive and crashed in hilly terrain, killing all three occupants.
Crew:
Charles Nesbit, pilot and Managing Director of Wings Ltd,
Passengers:
William Bell,
Mrs. Haidee Rae.
Probable cause:
Inspection found that the starboard wing had separated from the airframe, caused by failure of the main spar at the root of the wing.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Saint John's

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Charles S. Wynne-Eyton
Registration:
G-AAXI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Saint John's - Harbour Grace
MSN:
2024
YOM:
1930
Location:
Saint John's
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was attempting a transatlantic flight from Canada to England. Shortly after takeoff from Saint John's-Lester Field Airport, bound for Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 in Vélizy-Villacoublay: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Registration:
G-AAZY
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Vélizy-Villacoublay - Stag Lane
MSN:
2025
YOM:
1930
Location:
Vélizy-Villacoublay
Yvelines
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Vélizy-Villacoublay Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in the Petit Clamart Avenue, in Clamart. The aircraft caught fire on ground and was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Mr. Ballet, pilot.
Passengers:
Baron Bernard Levavasseur de Précourt, Director of the Schreck Aeroplanes Company,
Comte Étienne de Roye.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in the Goodwin Sands

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Hylton R. Murray-Philipson
Registration:
G-AAXN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Croydon – Paris
MSN:
2012
YOM:
1930
Location:
Goodwin Sands
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Croydon to Paris, the pilot became lost while cruising in poor visibility due to mist. He spotted the French trawler named 'Sirius' and descended too low when a wing tip impacted the water surface. The aircraft flipped over and crashed. All three occupants were rescued by the crew of the trawler.
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