Crash of a Handley Page W.8 in Poix-de-Picardie

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1923
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAPJ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croydon - Paris
MSN:
W.8/1
YOM:
1919
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Croydon to Paris, the crew encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing in an open field. Upon landing, the aircraft rolled for few dozen metres then impacted a drainage ditch, coming to rest broken in two. All 9 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Fokker F3 on Goodwin Sands

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1923
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
H-NABH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Amsterdam - Rotterdam - Croydon
MSN:
1504
YOM:
1921
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching the British coast at a height of 2,000 feet, the pilot encountered engine problems and made an emergency landing on a sand bank called 'Goodwin Sands' and located some five miles off Deal, Kent. Less than an hour later, the crew of ship named 'Primo' could evacuate all four occupants who were uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Iwan Smirnoff, pilot.
Passengers:
Mr. Carsch,
Mr. Jacoby,
Mr. Stichling, all German citizens.
Probable cause:
It appears that the radiator failed in flight, causing the engine to stop.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.34 in Ivinghoe Beacon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1923 at 1805 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EBBS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Croydon - Manchester
MSN:
29
YOM:
1922
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
755
Circumstances:
The flight was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Croydon to Manchester. Whilst flying over Buckinghamshire, a storm was encountered. Witnesses stated that an engine stopped, but was then restarted. It appeared to them that an emergency landing was going to be made at Ford End, Ivinghoe, when the aircraft dived to the ground and crashed at Ivinghoe Beacon. The wreckage came to rest upside down, with both crew and all three passengers being killed. One witness reported hearing a violent explosion, but was not sure whether this was before the aircraft crashed or as a result of the crash. Villagers extricated the victims from the wreckage. The deceased were taken to Ivinghoe Town Hall pending an inquest by the coroner. As a result of the crash, Daimler Airway temporarily suspended their service between Croydon and Manchester, due to having no aircraft to operate it. The inquest opened on 17 September at Ivinghoe Town Hall. Evidence was given that the pilot was experienced, having flown for 755 hours, and that the aircraft was airworthy on departure from Croydon. It was carrying an adequate supply of fuel, having departed Croydon with 73 imperial gallons (330 l) of fuel against an estimated consumption of around 50 imperial gallons (230 l). The aircraft could carry eight passengers, but as only three were on board 400 pounds (180 kg) of ballast was carried, as well as a quantity of mail. Witnesses reported that the aircraft stalled before crashing.
Probable cause:
Air Ministry announced that as a result of the investigation into the circumstances of the accident to aircraft G-EBBS, the Inspector of Accidents has arrived at the following conclusions:
a) That the accident was due to an error of judgment on the part of the pilot, causing the aeroplane to lose flying speed near the ground.
b) That when the accident occurred the pilot was attempting to make a landing on account of the bad weather conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.34 in Croydon

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1923
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EBBQ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croydon - Brussels
MSN:
27
YOM:
1922
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, en route to Brussels. There were no casualties. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Farman F.60 Goliath in East Malling: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1923 at 1730 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AECB
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris - Berck-sur-Mer - Croydon
MSN:
16
YOM:
1922
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Captain / Total flying hours:
800
Captain / Total hours on type:
380.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget at 1245LT and landed at Berck-sur-Mer a little over an hour later in order to take 3 passengers on board, the journey being continued at 1445LT. Shortly after passing Lympne, the port engine commenced to overheat and on this account the pilot turned back and landed on the aerodrome. It was then found that the port radiator was leaking. After the mechanic had executed a temporary repair and refilled the radiator, the pilot left Lympne at 1647LT with both engines running satisfactorily. When the aeroplane was a few miles to the south of Maidstone, flying at a height of about 1,500 feet, the starboard engine failed suddenly and completely, the propeller coming to a standstill. The pilot, while looking for a suitable landing ground and keeping the port engine running under full power, made a wide circuit to the left and at a height of about 500 feet he resumed his original course with the intention of landing in a large field on East Malling. (This field was known to the pilot, as he had on a previous occasion made a forced landing not far from it). While the pilot was making the circuit to the left the mechanic reported the engine failure to Croydon by W/T and moved two suitcases from his gangway to the rear of the passengers' cabin. Acting on an order from the pilot, he then instructed the four passengers in the nose of the Goliath to move into the after portion of the cabin. Two of the passengers took up a position at the rear end of the cabin and one stood by the second seat. The fourth passenger in the nose of the machine, (killed) who at that time was suffering from air sickness, refused to leave his seat. On nearing the ground and when the aeroplane was heading in a N.N.W. direction with the field on its port bow, the pilot throttled down the port engine and prepared to turn into wind for the landing. As soon as the engine was throttled down the tail of the machine commenced to drop and the pilot was unable to correct the movement, the controls becoming inoperative. The aeroplane then turned with increasing bank to starboard and finally nose-dived to the ground. The pilot was slightly injured in the crash, his mechanic was hurt quite seriously.
Crew:
Jean-Jacques Denneulin, pilot,
Jean Morin, mechanic.
Passengers:
Mr. L. E. A. Gunther (killed)
Mr. S. Bertish (seriously injured)
Mr. M.Oliver (seriously injured)
Mr. M. Strieseman (seriously injured)
Mr. Centeswall (seriously injured)
Mr. A.M. Austin (injured)
Mr. D. Smith (injured)
Mrs Smith (injured)
Mr. Murat (unhurt).

Source: Kent & Sussex History Forum
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Fokker F3 in Croydon

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1923
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
H-NABM
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Amsterdam – Rotterdam – Croydon
MSN:
1509
YOM:
1921
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Croydon Airport, the engine lost power. The pilot increased power but the airplane continued to lose height then stalled and crashed in a field. On ground, it rolled for few dozen metres before hitting a bank and some concrete posts. While all four occupants were slightly injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The engine and some other parts were later used for another Fokker F3.
Probable cause:
Power loss on final approach.

Crash of an Avro 504K in Croydon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1923
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAYB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Croydon - Croydon
MSN:
H6608
YOM:
1921
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at Croydon Airport. The aircraft crashed on final approach, killing both pilots.

Crash of a Farman F.60 Goliath in Monsures: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1923 at 1342 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-AEBY
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Paris - Croydon
MSN:
15
YOM:
1922
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 1235LT bound to the north. While cruising at a height of 3,000 feet, the entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field located in Monsures, Somme. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All six occupants were killed.
Crew:
François Le Men, pilot +1.
Passenger:
Mr. Pierrot, Technical Director of Air Union,
Two US citizen,
One Finnish citizen.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident was the structural failure of a wing. One of the aircraft's wings was found at a distance of 200 yards (180 m) from the location of the main wreckage. One pair of wheels from the undercarriage was found near the railway line from Amiens to Beauvais, several hundred yards from the main wreckage.

Crash of a Vickers 61 Vulcan in Oxted

Date & Time: Aug 15, 1922
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EBDH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croydon - Paris
MSN:
02
YOM:
1922
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Croydon, the pilot encountered technical problems and decided to make an emergency landing in Oxted, near Caterham, Surrey. While all occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Exact date of the occurrence remains unknown. The accident occurred between 1st and 31st of August 1922.
Probable cause:
Technical failure.

Crash of a Blériot Spad 33 off Folkestone: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1922 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-ACMH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Croydon - Paris
MSN:
555
YOM:
1921
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
After passing over Lympne, the aircraft has just entered over the English Channel when, from a height of about 1,500 feet, it entered a dive and crashed in the sea off Folkestone. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Paul Ernest Morin, pilot.
Passengers:
Paul Carroll,
Dr, Gordon Ley.