Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Port Soderick: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5026
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
West Freugh - West Freugh
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF West Freugh at 1953LT for a night training exercise. While approaching the Isle of Man, the crew encountered engine problems and the pilot elected to make an emergency landing in poor weather conditions when the twin engine aircraft hit a cliff located 1,5 mile from Port Soderick. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (4th AFU):
F/Sgt C. G. Eckersley, pilot,
Sgt H. Peters, navigator,
Sgt G. R. Tippett, bomb aimer,
Sgt H. C. Thompson, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt L. J. Henley, wireless operator.
Source: http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=144966
Probable cause:
An Inquiry into the accident found that the primary cause of the accident was “ the shearing of one of the propeller Boss belts, which caused spasmodic and intense vibration, and loss of engine revs as it came into contact with the nuts of the front cover. It was though that the Pilot decided to make an immediate forced landing, preferably on water near the coast, but that he overshot aiming north while flying in bad visibility, and faced with cliffs ahead, he opened up to try and clear them, but crashed head on into them.”

Crash of a Consolidated B-24E-25-FO Liberator in Lakeside: 13 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
42-7408
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wendover - Pocatello
MSN:
332
Location:
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
A formation of five Consolidated B-24E Liberator was on its way from Wendover AFB to Pocatello, Idaho. While cruising at an altitude of 11,100 feet, the Liberator registered 42-7183 that was in the third position was left behind so its captain increased power to regain its position in the formation. Doing so, the tail of the 42-7183 hit the left wing of the 42-7408. On impact, the number one engine of 42-7408 was sheared off and both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All 25 occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Richard Ralph Abmyer,
Sgt Edward W. Arnold,
1st Lt Milton O. Bell,
Sgt Anton P. Brajkovich,
1st Lt Austin W. Clark,
Sgt Ralph E. Dahlkamp,
S/Sgt Joseph L. Guth,
Cpl Francis E. Hanson,
S/Sgt Hans R. Priester,
Sgt Stanley F. Roberson,
Cpl Hugh W. Robinson Jr.,
2nd Lt John D. Rogers,
2nd Lt James B. Sharp.
Probable cause:
According to officials, the pilot of the aircraft registered 42-7183 bears full responsibility for this tragedy because he did not comply with basic rules of discipline during a training flight. However, investigators point out that the massive presence of ice in the region remains a contributing factor to the accident in the sense that aircraft performances were reduced.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24E-25-FO Liberator in Lakeside: 12 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
42-7183
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wendover - Pocatello
MSN:
207
Location:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
A formation of five Consolidated B-24E Liberator was on its way from Wendover AFB to Pocatello, Idaho. While cruising at an altitude of 11,100 feet, the Liberator registered 42-7183 that was on third position was left behind so its captain increased power to regain its position in the formation. Doing so, the tail of the 42-7183 hit the left wing of 42-7408. On impact, the number one engine of 42-7408 was sheared off and both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All 25 occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Saul Becker,
Pvt Lloyd E. Fowler,
2nd Lt Ray W. Gambol,
Cpl Lawrence A. Griffin,
Sgt Clyde Hewitt,
2nd Lt James H. Hutcheson,
2nd Lt Paul J. Kohler,
2nd Lt William D. Lieber,
2nd Lt Lawrence G. McGinnis,
2nd Lt Carroll Edward Meyer,
2nd Lt John H. Moffett,
2nd Lt Richard Settineri.
Probable cause:
According to officials, the pilot of the aircraft registered 42-7183 bears full responsibility for this tragedy because he did not comply with basic rules of discipline during a training flight. However, investigators point out that the massive presence of ice in the region remains a contributing factor to the accident in the sense that aircraft performances were reduced.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I near Barmouth: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EF953
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Llandwrog - Llandwrog
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training flight in the region of Barmouth, Wales. While cruising at a height of 1,000 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Bwlch y Llan and was destroyed by impact forces. All 4 occupants were killed.
Crew (9th AFU):
P/O Frederick Roger Bullock, pilot,
P/O John Alexander McIntosh, navigator,
P/O John William Butcher, navigator,
Sgt Henry John Noy, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Winter Hill

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BM837
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Acklington - Coleby Grange
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to RAF Coleby Grange, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Winter Hill, less than 40 feet from the summit. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was seriously injured.
Crew (410th Squadron):
F/Lt Martin Anthony Cybulski.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/pennines/penninesbm837.htm

Crash of a Vickers 440 Wellington X in RAF Lichfield

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HE653
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lichfield - Lichfield
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Lichtfield, while in initial climb, the aircraft collided with a flock of birds. Some of them hit the left engine that failed. Captain decided to return but few seconds later, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in a field near the airport. While all 7 occupants escaped unhurt, the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. The crew was conducting a training flight on behalf of the 27th OTU.
Probable cause:
Bird strike after take off.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Moscow-Vnukovo: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4032
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
184 63 05
YOM:
0
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
132
Circumstances:
After completing several maneuvers in Moscow-Vnukovo on a training program, the crew started a new approach. On final, both engines flamed out. The pilot in command pulled the control column back so the aircraft nosed up, stalled and crashed in a wooded area located 800 meters from the boundary fence. Three crew members were killed while four others were seriously injured.
Probable cause:
Both engines lost power due a faulty conception in the left fuel tank. It was reported that the admission of the fuel pipe was 41 mm above the bottom of the tank. In such circumstances, air was sucked into the fuel line when the fuel reserve passed under the admission mouth. Investigation revealed that 580 liters of fuel remained in an additional tank but the crew failed to switch. Finally, the reaction of the pilot in command was inadequate.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Wigram AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ1383
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wigram - Wigram
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the crew made a steep turn to the left when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. Both pilots were killed. They were performing a training mission.
Crew (1st ATS):
F/Sgt Douglas McDougall,
Marion Young.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina in Jacksonville: 6 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2330
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed into the St Johns River while performing a training mission out from the Jacksonville NAS. Six crew members were killed while six others were rescued.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle I in Bournemouth: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Operator:
Registration:
P1434
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bournemouth - Bournemouth
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training exercise from/to Bournemouth-Hurn Airport. On final approach, the right engine failed due to a lack of oil pressure. The captain abandoned the approach and started a go around. During the second attempt to land, the aircraft turn onto its back and crashed in a field located short of runway. Three crew members were killed while the fourth occupants was injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine caused by the collapsing of the cylinder number 4 due to a piston ring fracture.