Zone
Surrey

Crash of an Avro 504K in Croydon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Avro 504
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAWI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Croydon - Croydon
MSN:
E3672
YOM:
1921
Location:
Croydon
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On approach to Croydon Airport, the single engine crashed, killing the pilot, sole on board.

Crash of a Farman F.60 Goliath off Calais: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1921 at 1332 LT
Type of aircraft:
Farman F.60 Goliath
Operator:
Registration:
O-BLAN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Croydon - Brussels
MSN:
17/7248
YOM:
1920
Location:
Calais
Pas-de-Calais
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Croydon to Brussels-Haren Airport, a daily mail service, with a crew of two on board. While overflying The Channel, the aircraft caught fire and crashed in the sea some 6 km off Calais, France. The crew of a tug-boat named 'Champion' arrived on the scene but found only some debris floating on water and no trace of both crew members who were later considered as deceased.
Crew:
Lt Paul Delsenne, pilot
Raymond Rijckers, mechanic.

French pilot Delsenne was a freelance in the Belgian aviation since July 1920 and this was his last official flight as he should join the Armée de l'Air in Châteauroux on 01SEP1921. On his side, Raymond Rijckers was a young mechanic aged 21 and should obtain his pilot licence in a short time.
Probable cause:
A loss of control following an in-flight fire.

Crash of a Blériot Spad 27 in Bekesbourne

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Blériot Spad 27
Operator:
Registration:
F-CMAY
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Croydon - Paris
MSN:
1254
YOM:
1920
Location:
Bekesbourne
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-Le Bourget, the pilot encountered technical problems and elected to make an emergency landing in Bekesbourne. At low height, the aircraft collided with a telephone line then crashed on the railway road between Bekesbourne and Adisham. All three occupants evacuated safely, only the pilot suffered minor injuries. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Blériot Spad 27 near Dieppe

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Blériot Spad 27
Operator:
Registration:
F-CMAV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris - Croydon
MSN:
1252
YOM:
1920
Location:
Dieppe
Seine-Maritime
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a mail flight from Paris-Le Bourget to Croydon. While flying in the region of Dieppe, he encountered low visibility due to foggy conditions. At a too low altitude, the airplane impacted trees with one of its wings, stalled and crashed in the Arques forest. While the pilot was seriously injured, the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Fokker F.III in Hekelingen

Date & Time: May 21, 1921 at 1345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Fokker F3
Operator:
Registration:
H-NABL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Croydon – Rotterdam
MSN:
1508
YOM:
1921
Location:
Hekelingen
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Rotterdam Airport, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reasons. Upon landing in a field, the aircraft impacted a drainage ditch and came to rest upside down. All three occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was rebuilt with another MSN 1533 and same registration H-NABL.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.18 in Airgueil

Date & Time: May 13, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.18
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAUF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris – Croydon
MSN:
3
YOM:
1920
Location:
Argueil
Seine-Maritime
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was attempting to make a forced landing and the aircraft ended up on its back, completely wrecked near the edge of a large field 1,5 km north of Argueil. Marks on the ground and the nature of the country indicate that the pilot stalled the machine in attempting to land across a sunken road with insufficient flying speed. The pilot stated that his left wing dropped and he could not get it up again. From marks on the ground, the wing had apparently not touched the ground until the undercarriage collapsed, after which the machine turned over onto its back. The pilot was Captain H. W. Chataway.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 in Croydon

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
O-BABI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Croydon - Brussels
MSN:
H5925
YOM:
1920
Location:
Croydon
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, while on a cargo flight to Brussels, the aircraft stalled and crashed in an open field. The pilot was slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4A in Folkestone: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1921 at 1433 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
O-BAIN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Croydon - Brussels
MSN:
H5915
YOM:
1920
Location:
Folkestone
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot Prosper Georges was performing a cargo flight from Croydon to Brussels on behalf of SNETA, the Syndicat National pour l'Étude du Transport Aérien. The aircraft departed Croydon Airport at 1343LT and continued towards the east. While approaching The Channel, the visibility dropped due to mist and the pilot decided to return. During the last turn, the aircraft hit a hill near the pub called 'The Valiant Sailor' and crashed. The pilot was seriously injured and died from his injuries three days later.
Probable cause:
The Investigation Report for the incident says that the cargo was a mere 8.5lbs in weight and 150lbs of ballast. Mons.George was a very experienced pilot and had flown that type of aircraft on the same route many times before. O-BAIN was seen approaching the Dover-Folkestone road from the west and was dimly seen passing just over the roof of a farmhouse. It then turned to starboard, towards rising ground, and crashed in a field 546 feet above sea level. Just before impact it was noted that the engine appeared to be running satisfactorily. Examination of the wrecked Airco showed that the starboard plane had struck the ground first, an interplane and part of the bottom wing tip being embedded in the earth. From that point to where the main wreckage lay, a distance of 90 yards, the collapse of the parts of the machine could be traced from the marks on the ground. The entire fuselage was shattered as far back as the passengers cabin. All control cables were found to be intact and in serviceable condition. The accident was blamed on poor visibility.

Source: ASN.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9B in Paris

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1920 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.9
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAQN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Croydon - Paris
MSN:
P.37E
YOM:
1920
Location:
Paris-Le Bourget
Seine-Saint-Denis
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at Paris-Le Bourget Airport. There were no injuries.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9B in Eltham

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1920
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.9
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAGX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris - Croydon
MSN:
H9255
YOM:
1919
Location:
Eltham
London Metropolis
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Paris-Le Bourget. After overflying Kent and while cruising west of Dartford, the crew encountered problems and the aircraft crashed in Eltham, northeast of Croydon. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
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