Vickers Virginia | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

During the takeoff roll at RAF Eastchurch, the aircraft hit a parked DH.9 with a wing. The pilot continued the takeoff procedure. After liftoff, at a height of about 100 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O William James Kelly,
P/O John Frederick Dowdeswell,
F/Sgt Albert George Alderton,
AC2 Everett Daniels.

Crash of a Vickers 115 Virginia VII off Sheerness

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1927 at 2100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Virginia

Operator:

Registration:

J7425

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Manston – Spitalgate

Location:

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Region:

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Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Manston on a night flight to RAF Spitalgate. En route, the engines lost power and failed. The crew ditched the aircraft in the Thames estuary off Sheerness at 2100LT. All four occupants were rescued about six hours later by the crew of the trawler SS Pickmere. The aircraft was lost.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the engine failure was due to two of the main petrol cocks being turned off.

Crash of a Vickers 115 Virginia VIII off Birchington-on-Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1925 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Virginia

Operator:

Registration:

J7439

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Manston - Manston

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Manston Airport in the morning to complete a training mission over the North Sea and the Thames Estuary. At the end of the mission, while returning, the crew encountered poor visibility due to fog. The captain decided to ditch the aircraft off Birchington-on-Sea, Kent. The aircraft crashed in the sea and was later recovered. The copilot and another crew were killed while the captain and another crew were injured.
Crew:
Eric Alfred Claude Bushell, pilot,
Neil Coull Walker, copilot, †
Ernest Edward Mills, †
Horace Eustace Grellis.