Training

Operator:

Registration:

NG437

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Schedule:

North Luffenham - North Luffenham

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft encountered serious difficulties to gain height and was in a constant stall attitude, with nose up and tail down. The captain increased engine power but the aircraft lost height, hit the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (1653 HCU):
Sgt Anthony Fredrick Barnard Blaikley,
W/O Reginald Thomas Nutting,
Sgt Anthony Bone,
F/Sgt Frank Keighley Dexter,
F/Sgt Alexander John Rossiter,
F/Sgt Alfred Albert Willis Thomas,
Sgt Thomas Edward Valler.

Probable cause:

The pilot was completing his first flight on this aircraft as a captain and probably put the elevators in a wrong setting at takeoff.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster X in Chalford: 2 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

KB705

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

Aston Down - Aston Down

MSN:

37006

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Shortly after takeoff from RAF Aston Down, while climbing, the aircraft suffered a simultaneous failure of all four engines. The crew, who was completing a training mission, attempted to make an emergency landing but the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located in Chalford, some 1,3 mile north of the airfield. Both crewmen were killed.
Crew (428th Squadron):
S/L Reggie Heber Thomas, pilot,
F/Sgt Ronald Lester Gray, flight engineer.

Probable cause:

The crew did not prepare the flight properly and did not follow the pre-departure checklist. On rotation, the power switches have been at OFF position, causing all four engines to stop.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DL Dakota III in Radcliffe-on-Trent

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

FD828

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

9190

YOM:

1943

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a night training sortie and enroute, lost his orientation. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing an the aircraft crash landed in a prairie and was damaged beyond repair. All three occupants escaped unhurt.

Probable cause:

Emergency landing required after a loss of orientation on part of the crew.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK Dakota IV in Yangon

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KK208

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Yangon - Yangon

MSN:

15542/26987

YOM:

1944

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The crew was involved in a training sortie. Just after takeoff, while in initial climb, the instructor simulated an engine failure. Mistakenly, the second pilot shut down the second engine and feathered its propeller. The aircraft stalled and crash landed in a field located 5 km west of the airport. All three occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Crew error.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF East Moor

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 619 Wellington X

Operator:

Registration:

NC725

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew were undertaking a cross country training flight when, three hours into the flight the pilot noticed the gauges on his panel showed the starboard engine had lost oil pressure. The pilot feathered the engine believing it was failing. He then attempted a hurried forced landing at RAF East Moor at 1345LT but touched down too far along the runway and as the aircraft ran off the end of the runway, the aircraft's undercarriage was raised to stop the aircraft.
Crew (10th OTU):
F/O Geoffrey Wright Burt, pilot 4.
Source:
http://www.yorkshire-aircraft.co.uk/aircraft/planes/ryedale/nc725.html

Probable cause:

An investigation found there to have been no problem with the engine but a faulty oil pressure gauge on the pilot's panel made him think that the engine had failed when actually there was no problem.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-414A in Ilhéus

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

PP-CBS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Ilhéus - Ilhéus

MSN:

4963

YOM:

1942

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Circumstances:

Crashed on landing while conducting a training flight. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster IB in Wigston: 6 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PA269

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Faldingworth - Faldingworth

Location:

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While overflying Wigston in very poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and spiraled into the ground. During the descent, the aircraft disintegrated in the air and crashed in the city of Wigston. Debris were found on a large area and several houses were damaged. While there were no casualties on the ground, all six crew members were killed.
Crew (300th Squadron):
W/Cdr R. Sulinski, pilot,
F/O W. Jedrzejczyk, navigator,
F/O C. Sulgut, air gunner,
W/O W. Brzezinski, wireless operator,
W/O M. Szwandt, air bomber,
F/Sgt F. Mikula, flight engineer.

Probable cause:

The aircraft may have been struck by lightning while flying in very bad weather conditions (clouds with turbulence and thunderstorm activity).

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III in RAF Strubby: 6 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NE140

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Strubby - Strubby

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a training sortie from RAF Strubby. While flying in cloudy conditions, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that spiraled into the ground. After it crossed the last cloud layer, wings partially detached. The aircraft disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in a field located a mile from RAF Strubby, near the village of Beesby. All six occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It appears that the loss of control occurred while the aircraft was flying in cumulonimbus with heavy turbulence. Wings were partially sheared off during the fall due to the wrong attitude of the the aircraft and due to excessive load (aerodynamic forces), well above certification.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III in Fāyid AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

RE202

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: