Crash of a De Havilland DH.86A Express in Kirby-in-Furness

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1939
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.86 Express
Operator:
Registration:
L7596
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Government
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Biggin Hill - Belfast
MSN:
2348
YOM:
1936
Location:
Kirby-in-Furness
Cumbria
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Belfast, the crew encountered technical problems in low visibility due to fog. The Captain decided to divert to Blackpool but was forced to attempt an emergency landing in a field due to fuel shortage. The aircraft eventually crash landed near Kirby-in-Furness, some three miles northwest of Ulverston. All three occupants, among them the British State Secretary for Aviation Sir Kingsley Wood, were uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Avro 548 in Welling: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Avro 548
Operator:
Registration:
G-AABW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Biggin Hill – Croydon
MSN:
G516
Location:
Welling
London Metropolis
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Biggin Hill on a taxi flight to Croydon, carrying one passenger and one pilot. En route, in unknown circumstances, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed near the Weeling Station. The pilot Arthur Norman Brunning was killed and the pilot Stanley Victor Annis was injured.

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 an Avro 504K in Southwark Park

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1920
Type of aircraft:
Avro 504
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAHW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Cricklewood - Biggin Hill
MSN:
E3364
YOM:
1919
Location:
Southwark Park
London Metropolis
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Cricklewood on a flight to Biggin Hill for an aerial photography mission on behalf of Aerofilms Ltd, carrying one photographer and one pilot. En route, the pilot encountered technical problems and elected to make an emergency landing in Southwark Park. The aircraft crashed in a small lake and was damaged beyond repair. Both occupants escapes uninjured.
Probable cause:
Technical failure.
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