Westland Wessex | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The three engine aircraft departed Blackpool-Squires Gate Airport for a local flight with four passengers and one pilot on board. While flying over the city of Blackpool, it collided with an Avro 504N registered G-ACOD. Operated by the National Aviation Displays , the second aircraft was carrying two passengers and a pilot. After the collision, the Avro 504 dove into the ground and crashed in Swainson Street, in Cedar Square, bursting into flames. The pilot of the Westland was able to make an emergency landing.

Crash of a Westland Wessex off The Needles: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1935 at 1805 LT

Type of aircraft:

Westland Wessex

Operator:

Registration:

G-ADEW

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Guernsey - Bournemouth

MSN:

WA.1899

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Prior to departure from Guernsey to Bournemouth, the pilot encountered difficulties with the port engine but was eventually able to start the flight. While overflying The Channel, the port engine failed. The pilot decided to continue to Bournemouth but was unable to maintain a safe altitude. He eventually decided to ditch the aircraft some 3-4 miles off The Needles, on the west part of the Isle of Wight. The passenger was rescued by the crew of the ship named 'SS Stanmore' while the pilot and the aircraft were never found.
Crew:
W. H. Ogden. †
Passenger:
C. F. Grainger.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine in flight.