Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Chipping Sodbury: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1949
Operator:
Registration:
NF857
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
6728
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Few minutes after his departure from RAF Colerne, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a field located one mile north of Chipping Sodbury. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in North Ronaldsay

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1949
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHXV
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6747
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing an ambulance flight with one patient, two accompanists and a crew of two. After touchdown, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and hit a ditch before coming to rest on its nose. All five occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Glasgow

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1948
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHXY
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Benbecula – Glasgow
MSN:
6808
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Glasgow-Renfrew Airport, while completing an ambulance flight from Benbecula, the aircraft crashed on a golf course. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide off Liverpool: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1948 at 1815 LT
Operator:
Registration:
G-AKOF
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dublin – Douglas
MSN:
6538
YOM:
1947
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
15000
Circumstances:
On approach to Douglas-Ronaldsway Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and was unable to land. In thick fog, the pilot made several attempts to land, without success. As the weather conditions were better in Liverpool, he decided to divert. While descending to Speke Airport, both engines stopped simultaneously. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing but the aircraft crashed into the Mersey, about 3 miles north of the airport. A passenger was rescued while eight other occupants were killed. The aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew:
John Higgins, pilot,
Noel Clucas, radio operator.
Probable cause:
It was determined that both engines failed on approach to Liverpool-Speke Airport because the fuel tanks were empty. The crew positioned that day from Douglas to Dublin to pick up passengers but failed to refuel prior to departure from Dublin. After several unsuccessful attempts to land in Douglas-Ronaldsway Airport, a divert to Liverpool and one approach, the fuel tanks were empty and both engines failed as the fuel quantity was insufficient. It was then considered that the crew misjudged the situation. The pilot was very experienced with over 15,000 flying hours and more than 5,000 flights between Liverpool and the Isle of Man.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Syria

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1948
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGOP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Haifa – Damascus
MSN:
6873
YOM:
1945
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route to Damascus, the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in a desert area located in the southeast of Syria. Both occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide near Peel: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1948 at 2000 LT
Registration:
G-AIUI
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Birmingham – Douglas
MSN:
6675
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Douglas-Ronaldsway Airport in poor weather conditions. Apparently following a navigational error, the aircraft came from the west at a too low altitude when it hit a cliff located near Peel. The wreckage was found few hours later. Both crew members and four passengers were killed while two others were seriously injured. The crew was unable to locate the airport of Douglas and to know his exact position when the accident occurred. The pilot was completing his first flight to Douglas Airport.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dominie near RAF Boscombe Down: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1948
Operator:
Registration:
NR753
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
6841
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising in the vicinity of the RAF Boscombe Down, the twin engine aircraft collided in unknown circumstances with a RAF Avro 652 Anson registered NL248. The Dominie went out of control and crashed in a prairie while the pilot of the Anson was able to land safely. All three crew members on board the Dominie were killed.
Crew:
F/O Ashley James Greer,
Peter J. Bartlett,
Peter C. Damon.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Daly Waters

Date & Time: May 6, 1948 at 1321 LT
Operator:
Registration:
VH-BKM
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Daly Waters – Alice Springs
MSN:
6543
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed one minute after its takeoff from Daly Waters while performing a delivery flight to Alice Springs with two crew and two ladies as passengers on board. After takeoff, during the initial climb, while at an altitude of 150 feet, both engines failed simultaneously. The captain elected to make an emergency landing in a prairie but at the last moment, the left engine regained power. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames. All four occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Zambezi

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
VP-YBK
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Salisbury – Zambezi
MSN:
6359
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on approach to Zambezi Airport for unknown reason. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all six occupants were slightly injured.

Ground fire of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Zanzibar

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1947
Registration:
VP-UAW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6631
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On start-up, the right engine caught fire. Both occupants were able to leave the aircraft that was partially destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Engine fire on start-up.