Ireland | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport on an operation over the Merseyside area. Along the Irish coast, it was shot down by the pilot of a Hurricane and crashed into the sea off Wexford. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Oblt Hans Kohler,
Fw Horst Birkholz,
Uffz Rudolf Firchau,
Gefr Franz Günther,
Fw Martin Lippert.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Dornier DO.18D-3 off Saltee Islands

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO.18

Operator:

Registration:

K6+FL

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

810

YOM:

1939

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After takeoff, the floatplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Saltee Islands, south Ireland. All crew members were rescued by another DO.18.

Crash of a Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor on Mt Brandon

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor

Operator:

Registration:

F8+KH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bordeaux - Bordeaux

MSN:

0015

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Circumstances:

While cruising in poor visibility due to bad weather, the four engine airplane impacted the slope of Mt Brandon and crashed. All six crew members were rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
Oblt Kurt H. Mollenhauer,
Obfw Ronald Beumer,
Fw Ludwig Wochner,
Uffz Hans A. Bell,
Gefr Kurt K. W. Kyck,
Dr. Erich Krueger.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth on Mt Little Sugar Loaf: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1937

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

EI-AAJ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Baldonnel - Baldonnel

MSN:

1866

YOM:

1931

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The pilot Reginald Good was performing a solo flight and departed Baldonnel Airport in the day. En route, the single engine aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Little Sugar Loaf located south of Bray, some 23 km southeast of Dublin. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth in Bennettsbridge

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1935

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth

Operator:

Birkett Air Services

Registration:

G-ADAR

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

7091

YOM:

1935

Location:

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Crashed in unknown circumstances in Bennettsbridge, bursting into flames. Both occupants were injured and the airplane was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Fairey IIIF at Baldonnel AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1934

Type of aircraft:

Fairey III

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Baldonnel - Baldonnel

MSN:

F.968

YOM:

1927

Location:

Baldonnel-Casement AFB (Dublin)

Leinster

Country:

Ireland

Region:

Europe

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The crew departed Baldonnel-Casement AFB on a local post maintenance test flight. While flying around the airbase, the pilot failed to realize his altitude was too low. The airplane impacted a tree then crashed between n° 31 and 33 Terenure Road in the West Dublin suburb, bursting into flames. A crew member was seriously injured and both other occupants were killed. There were no victims on ground.
Crew:
Lt Arthur G. Russell, †
Pvt Donal Joseph Toomey, †
Sgt Patrick Leo Canavan.

Crash of a Spartan Three Seater II near Drogheda: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1933 at 1730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Spartan Three Seater I/II

Operator:

Registration:

G-ABZH

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Drogheda - Drogheda

MSN:

103

YOM:

1932

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The airplane was completing several local demo flights while taking part to an airshow at Colpe Farm near Drogheda. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the engine failed. The airplane stalled, entered a sharp left turn and crashed. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/O Robert Kingsley Rose, pilot.
Passengers:
Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Hoey.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Limerick: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1933

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

EI-AAI

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Limerick - Limerick

MSN:

1860

YOM:

1931

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While taking part to the National Aviation Day in Limerick, the aircraft was completing a demonstration flight in the vicinity of the airport when it collided with a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth registered G-ABWF with one pilot on board. The Fox Moth lost its undercarriage but landed safely and was later repaired. Nevertheless, the Gipsy Moth went out of control and crashed near the airfield. Both occupants, pilot William Elliot and passenger William Ower were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth off Dalkey Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1933

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

EI-AAH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Baldonnel - Baldonnel

MSN:

1808

YOM:

1930

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The aircraft departed Baldonnel Airport near Dublin for a regional round trip. While cruising off the Dalkey Island, southeast of Dublin, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. Both occupants, pilot Major Sam Dunckley and passenger Edward D. Clayson were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 8 Altair Special off Kinsale

Date & Time: May 13, 1932

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 8 Sirius/Altair

Operator:

Registration:

NC998Y

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Harbour Grace – Paris

MSN:

176

YOM:

1931

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The pilot Lou Reichers departed Harbour Grace on a new record solo flight to Paris. While cruising over Ireland, he encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to ditch the airplane in the Bandon River off Kinsale, south Ireland. He was rescued by the crew of 'USS President Roosevelt' while the airplane sank and was lost.