Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster B3 in Heathrow

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Avro 691 Lancastrian
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGUL
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
London-Heathrow - London-Heathrow
YOM:
1945
Location:
London-Heathrow
London Metropolis
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a night training mission in London-Heathrow Airport. On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, ground looped and came to rest. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft christened 'Star Watch' was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III off Southend: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
DV976
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Southend-on-Sea
Essex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
During a training sortie, the engine number three failed. The captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to ditch the aircraft when the same engine caught fire. Shortly later, the engine detached and the seaplane hit the water surface at high speed, overturned and came to rest off Southend. Six crew members were injured while the captain and all three passengers were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the engine failure was not determined with certainty. However, the absence of an experienced copilot was considered as a contributory factor as the workload caused by an emergency situation was too heavy for the sole captain.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B2 in Mautby: 9 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Avro 694 Lincoln
Operator:
Registration:
RE373
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hemswell - Hemswell
Location:
Mautby
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a night training sortie from RAF Hemswell, Lincolnshire. While cruising northwest of Great Yarmouth, the crew encountered very poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and heavy turbulence. The aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Mautby. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew (97th Squadron):
F/Lt Stanley Frederick Whitlock, pilot,
F/Lt Jack Anthony Guest, pilot,
F/Lt John George Cook, navigator,
F/Lt Ronald Vernon Havard, navigator and bomb aimer,
Albert Wattleworth, signaler,
Vincent Orville Woods, air gunner,
William Allison, flight engineer,
Roy Andrew Trundle, air gunner,
LAC Denis Frederick Cummings.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was caused by heavy turbulence encountered while flying in thunderstorm activity but evidence was inconclusive.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in Athens: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
SX-BAB
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Athens - Athens
MSN:
18981
YOM:
1943
Location:
Athens-Hassani
Attica / Αττική
Country:
Greece
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew consisting of eight pilots was completing a training exercise in Athens-Hassani Airport. On final approach, the aircraft encountered downdraft, lost height and crashed on a beach located in Voula, south of the airport. The three pilots that were seating in the cockpit were killed as the cockpit crashed on rocks. Five others occupants were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Caught by downdraft on final approach.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in RAF Dishforth

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
MW223
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dishforth - Dishforth
MSN:
MW223
YOM:
1945
Location:
Dishforth AFB
North Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training sortie in RAF Dishforth. Upon landing, while decelerating, the engine number two caught fire. The captain applied full brakes and stopped the aircraft. All five crew members were able to leave the cabin before the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Failure of a hydraulic line connected to the landing gear, causing the fluid to flow into the number two engine's nacelle. In contact with high temperature parts, the fluid caught fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK Dakota C.4 in Westgate-on-Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KJ984
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Manston - Manston
MSN:
14977/26422
YOM:
1944
Location:
Westgate-on-Sea
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training sortie and while cruising at low height with an engine inoperative, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located in Westgate-on-Sea. Both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the loss of control could not be determined with certainty. However, investigators confirmed the aircraft was flying with an engine inoperative as voluntarily shut down by the crew for the exercise. Also, the pilot was able to recover from the spin but unfortunately too late as the distance between the aircraft and the ground was insufficient when stall occurred.

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A-1-FA Packet in New Germany

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-82 Packet
Operator:
Registration:
44-22960
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wright-Patterson - Wright-Patterson
MSN:
10004
YOM:
1944
Location:
Wright-Patterson AFB (Dayton)
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in a garden in New Germany while on approach to Wright-Patterson AFB. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Avro 683 Lancaster III in RAF Ballykelly

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
SW371
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ballykelly - Ballykelly
Location:
Ballykelly AFB
Londonderry
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff when all four engines failed simultaneously. All five crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Failure of four engines on takeoff.

Crash of a North American B-25J-22-NC Mitchell near Pendotiba: 7 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
5067
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Rio de Janeiro - Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
108-32772
Location:
Pendotiba
Rio de Janeiro
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training sortie from Rio de Janeiro-Galeão Airport. While flying at low altitude in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a huge explosion in a wooded area located near Pendotiba, east of Rio de Janeiro. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Banke: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4017
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Banke - Banke
MSN:
184 53 06
YOM:
13
Location:
Banke
Aran
Country:
Azerbaijan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Aircraft flight hours:
2732
Circumstances:
The aircraft and its crew were dispatched from Baku-Zabrat Airport to the south (125 km south of Baku) to complete a night training program. While approaching Banke Airstrip, at a height of 100 meters, the pilot in command made a turn to the left when the aircraft stalled and crashed. Four crew members were killed while two others were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration, poor techniques and lack of discipline on part of the pilot in command. Lack of supervision on part of the instruction and lack of coordination within the flight crew.
Subscribe to Training