Country
United Kingdom

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Great Missenden: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
G-AJZY
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Göteborg – Bovingdon
MSN:
1322
YOM:
1945
Location:
Bovingdon AFB
Hertfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was en route from Torslanda Airport, Göteborg, to RAF Bovingdon with a crew of 4 and carrying 174 frozen reindeer carcases. On entering the Bovingdon area the Captain elected to use SBA for the let-down. The last instruction given to the aircraft by the Bovingdon controller was to descend to 2,000 feet and to report when over the SBA main beacon; no such report was made. The aircraft was seen 6 miles SW of Bovingdon flying at a low altitude, and a few seconds later it struck the ground. The crew were killed instantly, fire broke out and the aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable cause:
There was insufficient evidence to determine the probable cause of the accident, however the possibility that ice formation was a contributory factor cannot be entirely dismissed.
Final Report:

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Gibraltar

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1951 at 1457 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
RG837
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Gibraltar - Gibraltar
Location:
Gibraltar
All United Kingdom
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight in Gibraltar-North Front Airfield. After completing several approaches with one engine inoperative, the pilot in command started a new approach when a second engine failed. The aircraft stalled and hit the runway surface, went out of control and came to rest partially submerged. All six crew members were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The exact cause of the engine failure remains unknown.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax Met.6 on Achill Island: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1950 at 1630 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
RG843
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Belfast - Belfast
Location:
Achill Island
Connacht
Country:
Ireland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to Belfast-Aldergrove Airport following an uneventful meteorological mission over the Atlantic Ocean. While approaching the Achill Island, the crew informed ground that the mission was over. Shortly later, the crew encountered poor visibility with foggy conditions when the aircraft hit the slope of the Mt Croaghan located on Achill Island. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew (202nd Squadron):
Ernest George Hopgood, pilot,
Michael William Horsley, copilot,
Joseph Kevin Brown, navigator,
Harold Shaw, flight engineer,
Cornelius Joseph Rogan, signaler,
Martin Gilmartin, air gunner,
James Charles Lister, observer,
Bernard Francis McKenna, airman.
Probable cause:
The aircraft was flying at an insufficient altitude at the time of the accident, maybe because the crew was unaware of his real position. Poor visibility due to fog was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Brindisi

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
G-AITC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1381
YOM:
1946
Location:
Brindisi
Apulia
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed for unknown reason. All six crew members were uninjured.

Ground accident of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Paris

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIHY
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1325
YOM:
1946
Location:
Paris-Le Bourget
Seine-Saint-Denis
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered a ground accident while taxiing in Paris-Le Bourget. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax Met.6 into the Atlantic Ocean: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1949 at 1143 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
ST818
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Meteorological / Weather
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Belfast - Belfast
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Belfast-Aldergrove Airport at 0850LT on a meteorological mission over the Atlantic Ocean. The crew maintained radio contact with the ground until 1143LT when it disappeared from radar screens. SAR operations were conducted on a large area west of the Outer Hebrides Islands but were eventually suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. On board were three passengers and four crew members from the 202nd Squadron.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Schleswig

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHWN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1314
YOM:
1946
Location:
Schleswig AFB
Schleswig-Holstein
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Schleswig, while in initial climb, the crew encountered technical problems with the undercarriage that could not be raised. In such situation, the captain decided to return to Schleswig for a safe landing. On touchdown, the undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft slid on its belly before coming to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was already damaged last June 12 when it collided with another LAC Halifax 8 in Berlin-Tegel Airport.
Probable cause:
Technical problem with the undercarriage.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Berlin

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
G-ALBZ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Schleswig – Berlin
MSN:
1348
YOM:
1945
Location:
Berlin-Tegel
Berlin
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown in Berlin-Tegel Airport, a tire burst. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that veered off runway and collided with another Lancashire Aircraft Corporation Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII registered G-AHWN that was parked on the apron. There were no casualties but G-ALBZ was damaged beyond repair. The crew was performing a cargo flight from Schleswig, taking part to the Berlin Airlift. The Halifax registered G-AHWN was repaired but eventually damaged beyond repair on a landing accident in Schleswig on July 6, 1949.
Probable cause:
Tire burst on landing.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Berlin

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
G-AKBJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1317
YOM:
1945
Location:
Berlin-Tegel
Berlin
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed for unknown reason. All four crew members were slightly injured and the aircraft christened 'Air Ambassador' was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Nauen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
G-AKAC
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hamburg – Berlin
MSN:
1340
YOM:
1945
Location:
Nauen
Brandenburg
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While approaching Berlin on a cargo flight from Hamburg, taking part to the Berlin Airlift, the four engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Nauen, about 26 km northwest of Tegel Airport. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt William Richard Donald Lewis, pilot,
Edward Ernest Caroll, navigator,
John Anderson, flight engineer,
Kenneth George Wood, radio operator.
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