Positioning

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Pakhomovo - Moscow

MSN:

6 5 20

YOM:

1941

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In the early morning of August 6, two GVF PS-84 registered CCCP-L3480 and CCCP-L3432 departed Pakhomovo on a positioning flight to Moscow-Vnukovo. Due to the actual situation, the crew was unable to receive information about weather conditions at the destination airport and the person in charge at Pakhomovo Airport cleared both crew to takeoff without receiving any information about the weather conditions at destination. About 3 to 5 minutes separated both takeoffs. Upon arrival at Vnukovo Airport, the crew of CCCP-L3480 encountered foggy conditions, initiated a go around procedure and followed a circuit. As the second airplane was attempting to land, it collided with the first one that was attempting to land on the same runway but from the opposite direction. Both airplanes crash landed. CCCP-L3480 was repaired and returned to service while CCCP-L3432 was damaged beyond repair. The crew was injured.

Probable cause:

The collision was the consequence of the combination of the following factors:
- The person in charge at Pakhomovo Airport cleared both crew to takeoff without receiving any information about the weather conditions at destination,
- Both crew departed Pakhomovo without such information,
- Lack of discipline on part of both crew,
- Lack of visibility at destination airport due to foggy conditions,
- Lack of communications between both airports,
- Poor organization and supervision at Vnukovo Airport.

Ground accident of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Brize Norton: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

R9761

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

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While taxiing for takeoff, the twin engine aircraft was hit by a Bristol Blenheim that crashed upon landing. The Anson was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured. Two days later, he died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Cpt Harald Julius Hansen, pilot.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-260 near Novgorod

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

URSS-G

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

2097

YOM:

1938

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The airplane was sent to Novgorod to replace URSS-K that was shot down the previous day. In similar circumstances, while approaching Novgorod, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed. Occupants fate unknown. The flight was performed on behalf of the Grazhdansky Vozdushnyi Flot (GVF).

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-194B in Heston

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGBC

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De Havilland DH.86 Express

MSN:

1939

YOM:

1937

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Crashed on approach to Heston Airfield in foggy conditions. There were no casualties. The crew was performing an air bridge service between RAF Whitchurch, Heston and Lisbon.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.86B Express in Helsinki-Malmi

Date & Time: May 2, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

OH-IPA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

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Site:

Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow

Schedule:

Helsinki – Jyväskylä

MSN:

2353

YOM:

1936

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The pilot, sole on board, was performing a positioning flight from Malmi Airport to Tikkakoski Airport in Jyväskylä. During the take off run, in unclear circumstances, the four engine aircraft collided with a Finnish Air Force (Suomen Ilmavoimat) Brewster 239 BW-394. Both aircraft were damaged beyond repair and the pilot was injured.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the pilot was unaccustomed with this type of aircraft and miscalculated the takeoff distance.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow II in Headley Bar

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1940

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Registration:

K6983

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Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

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The 21st of April 1940 was Harrow K6983's first day with its new Unit, 271 Squadron, and it was being flown to RAF Finningley (Doncaster) to begin service with them. In the Tadcaster area bad weather was encountered and the pilot of the aircraft was intending to force-land on the former First World War airstrip at Bramham, to the west of Tadcaster. The aircraft hit a bank nearby at Headley Bar and crashed. With this being an outdated aircraft it was deemed not worth repairable and was written off.
Source: http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley III at RAF Linton-on-Ouse: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1939 at 1050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

K9001

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

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Schedule:

Linton-on-Ouse - York

MSN:

1454

YOM:

1939

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The crew was performing a positioning flight to York on behalf of the 51st Squadron. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of some 200 feet, the aircraft yawed to the right, stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Frank Hugo Griffiths,
Sgt Bernard Mullins.

Probable cause:

The cause of the accident was attributed to the elevator locks being left in place. The crew failed to properly follow the start up checklist.

Crash of a Lockheed 10E Electra in Moscow

Date & Time: May 22, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 10 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-N214

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Arkhangelsk - Moscow

MSN:

1065

YOM:

1936

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On final approach to Tushino Airport in Moscow, the aircraft landed 460 metres behind the landing T. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran and crashed in a ditch. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all four crew members escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Percival P.3 Gull Six near Karachi: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Percival D.3 Gull Six

Operator:

Registration:

VT-AJD

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type: