Hampshire | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Ten minutes after takeoff from Blackbushe, at an altitude of 6,000 feet, an oil leak occurred on the right engine that was shot down and its propeller feathered. The crew received the permission to return to Blackbushe. On final approach, at a speed of 100 knots, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in a field located 135 yards short of runway 26 threshold. All 37 occupants evacuated the cabin and four of them were injured, two seriously. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

The accident was the result of the captain allowing the aircraft to stall when making a single engine approach to land. A contributory factor was distraction of the captain's attention by the flickering of the undercarriage red indicator lights during a critical stage of the approach. The starboard engine was also damaged by fire and was removed for detailed examination by the Engine Division of the Bristol Aeroplane Company Ltd. Their report stated that the rear of the crankcase had been almost consumed by fire and that a number of cylinder barrels were severely burned. A detailed strip examination did not disclose any mechanical defect and no reason for the failure was established.

Final Report:

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson XI in Hamble

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

PH808

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Hamble - Hamble

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training sortie at RAF Hamble. Apparently following a wrong approach configuration, the crew landed long. As the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, it overran and came to rest on a railway. Both pilots were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland 3 off Calshot

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGKY

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Southampton – Lisbon – Funchal

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The takeoff from Southampton was attempted by night. During the takeoff roll on the Solent, the seaplane was unstable and the captain was unable to maintain the aircraft on the right course so he decided to abandon the takeoff procedure. A float located on the left wing hit the water surface and the left wing was submerged to the outer engine. All 31 occupants were quickly rescued and were uninjured while the aircraft sank.

Probable cause:

The accident was due to an error of airmanship by the captain in that he did not ascertain the crosswind component and in consequence attempted to take off under conditions with which he could not contend. The following factors were considered as contributory:
- The control officer misinformed the captain of the relationship between the wind and the flare path at the time of takeoff,
- The sudden deterioration of the weather conditions during the takeoff procedure.

Crash of a Vickers 658 Viking Mk.1 at RAF Odiham: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viking

Operator:

Registration:

VL266

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Odiham - Odiham

MSN:

171

YOM:

1948

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training mission at RAF Odiham, Hampshire. While flying in the vicinity of the airbase with one engine voluntarily inoperative, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field. Both crew members were killed, among them a RAAF Officer.

Crash of an Avro 19/1 in Petersfield: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Avro 19

Operator:

British Government

Registration:

G-AGZS

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Calibration

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

London-Gatwick - London-Gatwick

MSN:

1330

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Owned by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the twin engine aircraft was involved in a calibration flight on behalf of the Civil Aviation Authority and was carrying two inspectors from the CAA and two crew members. They were performing a calibration of the ILS system at Gatwick Airport when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the city of Petersfield, about 33 miles southwest of Gatwick. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland GR.5 off RAF Calshot: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

SZ565

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Calshot - Calshot

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The seaplane landed hard, bounced and eventually plunged into the sea and sank off RAF Calshot. Both pilots were killed while three others crew members were injured. The aircraft was lost. The crew was completing a training sortie on behalf of the 236th OCU.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.82 Hermes V in Chilbolton

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.82 Hermes V

Operator:

British Government

Registration:

G-ALEU

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

82/1

YOM:

1949

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew (5 pilots and engineers) was conducting a test flight on behalf of the British Ministry of Supply. En route, the engine number three oversped and its propeller was feathered. Shortly later, both engines number one and four failed. In such conditions, the crew decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed on its belly in a waterlogged field located in Chilbolton. While all five crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 in Winchester: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Avro 694 Lincoln

Operator:

Registration:

RF534

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Farnborough - Farnborough

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local training mission from RAF Farnborough, consisting of asymmetric landing exercices. In flight, the crew lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a field in Winchester, about 27 miles southwest of RAF Farnborough. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt R. F. Smail, pilot,
W. N. Plews, flight engineer.

Crash of a Short S.45 Solent off Netley

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Short S.45 Solent

Operator:

Registration:

G-AHIX

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Southampton - Southampton

MSN:

S.1310

YOM:

1946

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was carrying 11 people (five engineers from Short Brothers and six BOAC crew members) who were performing a test flight. Upon landing in the Solent, just prior to touchdown, the seaplane was caught by strong winds, hit the water surface and sank off Netley, southeast of Southampton, Hampshire. All 11 occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was lost.