Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster GR.3 off Agrigento: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1953 at 0448 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TX270
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 1,500 feet in low visibility due to the night and rain falls, the aircraft collided with a RAF Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 registered VX562. En route from Luqa to Northolt, the Valetta was carrying 16 passengers and a crew of three. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Mediterranean sea about 46 km southwest of Agrigento. All 26 occupants in both aircraft were killed. The Lancaster crew was following HMS Gambia and other Royal Navy ships on an antisubmarine exercise.
Probable cause:
The court of inquiry decided that the weather conditions at the time were a factor with localized thunderstorms, heavy rain and hail and no blame could be attached to any individual. Evidence did reveal that though the Malta Flight Information Centre were not in possession of full information on the Lancaster's sortie, it was not a contributory cause.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson T.21 near RAF Syerston

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WB455
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew lost radio aids and attempted to make an emergency landing when the twin engine aircraft crashed in a field located near the RAF Syerston. Both occupants were unhurt while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of radio aids.

Crash of a Boeing B-50D-125-BO Superfortress near Gridley: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1953 at 1340 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
49-0386
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Castle - Castle
MSN:
16162
YOM:
1949
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a navigational training sortie with three other similar aircraft. Three hours and a half after its departure from Castle AFB, the heavy bomber went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a grain field located eight miles west of Gridley. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 12 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Gerald W. Fallon,
Maj William P. McMillan,
Cpt William S. Raker,
Cpt Edward Y. Williams,
1st Lt George D. Griffitts,
T/Sgt Curtis F. Duffy,
T/Sgt Bobby G. Theuret,
M/Sgt Joe L. Bradshaw,
M/Sgt William H. Clarke,
M/Sgt Wallace N. Schwart,
AJ William B. Crutchfield,
A1c Charles W. Hesse.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the loss of control could not be determined.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings C.1 in Shallufa AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
TG602
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Shallufa - Shallufa
MSN:
80
YOM:
1949
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Shallufa Airbase, while climbing to a height of 2,000 feet, the four engine aircraft went into a dive and crashed in a desert area located 5,6 km southwest of the airfield. The airplane was destroyed and all nine crew members who were performing a local training mission were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that during initial climb, due to vibrations, the right elevator detached, followed shortly later by the left elevator and the rudder or tail assembly. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed. Investigation revealed that a certain modification which included the installation of increased diameter bolts in the tail section had not been carried out on TG602 for unknown reason.

Crash of a Boeing B-50D-90-BO Superfortress near Hunter AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48-089
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hunter - Hunter
MSN:
15898
YOM:
1948
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While conducting a local training sortie from Hunter AFB, the heavy bomber collided with another USAF B-50 registered 48-073. While the crew of the second aircraft was able to make an emergency landing without further issues, the B-50 registered 48-089 crashed in a field located six miles east of Hunter AFB. All nine crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-50-BN Washington B.1 in Llanarmon-yn-Iâl: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF502
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie from RAF Marham. While cruising by night at an altitude of 19,000 feet, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that went into a dive. While plunging into the earth at a height of 850 feet, the aircraft disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in an open field located near Llanarmon-yn-Iâl. The debris were found on an area more than five miles and all ten occupants have been killed. The crew was unable to send any sort of mayday message.
Crew:
S/L W. R. Sloane,
P/O C. B. Speller,
P/O M. J. Lightowlers,
Sgt E. F. Wheeler,
Sgt K. A. Reakes,
Sgt R. F. S. Anderson,
Sgt E. D. Pearton,
Sgt A. J. Martin,
Sgt M. J. Clifton,
Sgt R. G. Hughson.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-60-BN Washington B.1 in Horncastle: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF553
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
MSN:
11508
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission out of RAF Coningsby on behalf of the 15th Squadron. On final approach, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the pilot-in-command decided to abandon the approach and made a go around. A second attempt to land was later abandoned as well. During a third attempt to land, the aircraft was too low and crashed in a field located in Horncastle, about 6 miles north of the airbase. Five crew members were killed while two others were injured. Five crew members were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford T.1 in Temple Guiting: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MP287
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Wellesbourne Mountford
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a solo training mission from RAF Thorney Island to RAF Wellesbourne Mountford, Warwickshire. En route, while cruising by night and marginal weather conditions, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field located in Temple Guiting, about 10 miles northeast of Cheltenham. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was caused by an excessive accumulation of frost or ice on the aircraft during flight. The assumption that the pilot lost his orientation due to the accretion of ice on the windshield is not ruled out.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 in RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RF453
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Upwood, while in initial climb, the engine number three caught fire. The captain retarded the throttle and ordered the flight engineer to shut down the engine. For unknown reason, the flight engineer mistakenly shot down the engine number two instead of the number three. With insufficient power, the aircraft stalled and crashed in an open field located few hundred yards past the runway end. While all five crew members were slightly injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The cause of the fire on engine number three remains unclear. Wrong reaction on part of the flight engineer who shot down the wrong engine.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson T.21 in RAF Usworth

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WD418
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Usworth - Usworth
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After completing several training maneuvers in the vicinity of the airbase, the pilot-in-command decided to perform a single engine approach. On final approach to runway 23, while at a height of 200 feet, the airplane stalled and crashed in a near vertical attitude in a field located near the boundary fence. All five occupants (three cadets and two pilots) were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the stall was caused by an insufficient approach speed.