Avro 694 Lincoln

The crew was performing a test flight from RAF Boscombe Down to RAF Defford on behalf of the A & AEE. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 3,500 feet with the propeller of the engine number one feathered and the number two running at low speed, the aircraft stalled, went into a dive and crashed in a field located in Wylye, about 10 miles west of RAF Boscombe Down. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L A. Toot,
F/Lt A. G. Bradfield,
F/O G. W. Williams,
P. W. Howes.

Prior to departure, the crew was briefed about the poor weather conditions in south of France and that he should avoid this area. While cruising southeast of Avignon, the aircraft went through a low pressure zone with cumulonimbus. It encountered severe turbulences, lost two engines and its tail, went into a dive and crashed in a field in Verquières. All 11 occupants were killed. It appears that few elements of the aircraft broke off due to severe turbulences that exceeded their certification.

The aircraft departed Laverton at 1415LT for Amberley. Aeradio position reports were received normally through out the flight, until 1734LT, when clearance was obtained to descend from 8000 feet preparatory to the landing at Amberley. A short time later Amberley Flight Control cleared the aircraft for a straight-in approach RWY 05 at an angle of 45 degrees, turn right to align itself with the runway and commence to lose height on the approach - which appeared to be lower and faster that usual. The aircraft touched down in a tail high attitude, approximately 300 feet after crossing the threshold. After travelling a short distance, the aircraft then left the ground, rising to about five feet. From eyewitness reports, attempts were then made by the crew to force the aircraft onto the runway but this only resulted in three more bounces. When about 600 feet from the upwind end of the runway, engine power was applied to make a go around. It is estimated by ground observers that, by this stage, the airspeed of the Lincoln had decreased to approximately 80-85 knots. The Lincoln was then seen to climb slightly, level out at 100 feet, after which the nose of the aircraft rose sharply to place the aircraft in a climbing attitude of 40 degrees. After a further few seconds, the attitude changed abruptly to a climb of 80 degrees. With all engines roaring presumably under full power, the aircraft attained an altitude of approximately 500 feet AGL when, with no forward speed, the port wing slowly dropped and the aircraft steadily accelerated until the port main plane struck the ground in a vertical position. By this time the fuselage was parallel with the ground. The aircraft caught fire immediately and, although the fire tender arrived shortly after the crash, the fire could not be sufficiently controlled to extricate the crew or passengers. The crash site was 400 yards from the end of RWY 05 and displaced approximately 100 yards left of the runway.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

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.