Country
United Kingdom

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4A in Biggin Hill: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Instrument Design Establishment
Registration:
D9383
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Biggin Hill - Biggin Hill
Location:
Biggin Hill
London Metropolis
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 departed Biggin Hill on a local test flight on behalf of the Instrument Design Establishment. While cruising at a height of about 600 feet, the engine failed. The pilot-in-command was able to dive the airplane and to restart the engine when it failed again few seconds later. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field. One of the occupant was killed instently while the second was badly injured and died from his injuries in the evening.
Crew:
F/O Noel Butler Hemsley,
Edward Fenton Terry.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 in Croydon

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
O-BABI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Croydon - Brussels
MSN:
H5925
YOM:
1920
Location:
Croydon
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, while on a cargo flight to Brussels, the aircraft stalled and crashed in an open field. The pilot was slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Elko: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
67
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Elko – Salt Lake City
Location:
Elko
Nevada
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Elko Airport, in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole aboard, was killed.
Probable cause:
Poor judgment of pilot making turn.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 Twin in Mendota

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
124
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Minneapolis-Saint Paul
Minnesota
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Pilot Eversole jumped from the plane with parachute after takeoff from Minneapolis-Wold Chamberlain Field. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed in Mendota. The pilot was unhurt and the airplane was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Investigation proved that the pilot left the ship while it was flying in perfect condition.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Telephone Canyon

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
179
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cheyenne – Salt Lake City
Location:
Telephone Canyon
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Cheyenne to Salt Lake City, the oil pressure dropped to 9 or 10. The engine temperature increased to 192° and the revolutions per minute dropped to 1,200. The plane crashed on a mountain side near Telephone Canyon. The pilot was injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 Twin in Mendota: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
130
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Minneapolis – Chicago
Location:
Minneapolis-Saint Paul
Minnesota
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Minneapolis-Wold Chamberlain Field, while climbing to an altitude of 2,500 feet, the left engine failed. The pilot made a sharp turn when the airplane side slipped and went into a nose dive. It crashed in Mendota, about 4 km east of the airfield. One occupant was killed and the second was injured. The accident occurred 10 minutes after takeoff.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff.
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