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

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1956
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGLR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paris – Birmingham
MSN:
6781
YOM:
1944
Location:
Birmingham
West Midlands
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Birmingham Airport, both engines failed simultaneously. The crew elected to make an emergency landing but the aircraft crashed in flames in a field located in Berkswell, about 5 miles short of runway 33 threshold. While all nine occupants were injured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire. It is believed the accident was caused by a fuel exhaustion but fuel remained probably in auxiliary tank as the aircraft caught fire.

Ground accident of a Kaiser-Frazer C-119J Flying Boxcar in Birmingham

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
Operator:
Registration:
51-8133
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Birmingham - Birmingham
MSN:
136
YOM:
1952
Location:
Birmingham
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew (engineers and technicians) were performing ground test following technical modifications. While taxiing, the airplane went out of control, veered off taxiway and came to rest. Both occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3D in Spernall

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1953 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
EI-ACF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dublin – Birmingham
MSN:
42957
YOM:
1946
Location:
Spernall
Warwickshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
7303
Captain / Total hours on type:
3369.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3599
Copilot / Total hours on type:
2668
Aircraft flight hours:
10968
Circumstances:
Christened 'St Kieran', the aircraft left Dublin at 0936LT Bound for Birmingham, carrying 22 passengers and a crew of three. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, both engines lost power. The crew decided to make an emergency landing and the aircraft came to rest in a field located in Spernall. It was damaged beyond repair while all 25 occupants were evacuated safely, except for the copilot who was injured.
Probable cause:
The primary cause of the accident was loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. The Inquiry found that this was caused by selecting the port engine to the right main tank to which the starboard engine was also selected. The loss of engine power alone was the sole cause of the accident, which could have been avoided had the crew diagnosed the cause of the trouble and changed the fuel feed to another tank. The failure to diagnose fuel starvation was probably due to the circumstances: i.e. first, the lack of coordinated effort by the Captain and First Officer after the engines cut; second, the knowledge of the crew that ample fuel for the flight was on board and their belief that the engines were drawing from their respective main tanks. The actual forced landing of the aircraft in conditions of low cloud, poor forward visibility and unfavorable terrain was skilfully executed and resulted in the passengers escaping unharmed.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1948 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Hargreaves Airways
Registration:
G-AIUI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Birmingham – Douglas
MSN:
6675
YOM:
1946
Location:
Peel
Isle of Man
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
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 Douglas DC-3-393 in Birmingham: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1946 at 0359 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC21786
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
La Guardia – Pittsburgh – Knoxville – Birmingham
MSN:
4131
YOM:
1941
Flight number:
PCA105
Location:
Birmingham
Alabama
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
4517
Captain / Total hours on type:
3617.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3401
Copilot / Total hours on type:
773
Aircraft flight hours:
5864
Circumstances:
The approach to runway 18 was completed in marginal weather conditions. On final, the aircraft was well above the glide and with an excessive speed. It landed half way down the runway and after touchdown, was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, went through a fence and down an embankment before coming to rest with the cockpit crushed on the opposite embankment and partially submerged in a drainage ditch. The aircraft was written off and three crew members, among them both pilots, were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in committing himself to a landing from an approach which was too high and too fast.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Birmingham: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1945 at 1506 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-38636
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Maxton – Birmingham – Lubbock
MSN:
4739
YOM:
1942
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Maxton AAF to Lubbock, Texas, with an intermediate stop in Birmingham, towing to Waco CG-4A gliders. On approach to Birmingham, the crew was vectored to the NE-SW runway but for unknown reason, the captain decided to land on the north-south runway. After both gliders landed without problems, the crew of the C-47 started to take off when shortly after rotation, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. All four occupants were killed.
Crew:
T/Sgt E. M. Bechtold,
1st Lt Fred T. Heise,
2nd Lt John N. Ricker,
Avc Lawrence W. Schloss.

Crash of a Vickers 290 Wellington I in Digbeth: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1944 at 2355 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 290 Wellington I
Operator:
Registration:
HD987
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Location:
Birmingham
West Midlands
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from RAF Lindley/Nuneaton, while climbing, crew encountered an engine failure and attempted to return when the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in Digbeth, in the suburb of Birmingham. All three crew members were killed while there was no casualties on ground. The crew was completing an exercise on behalf of the 105th OTU.
Crew:
Lt B. J. Balchin,
D. Huddleston,
Sgt B. Morgan.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Birmingham: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1942 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z5899
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Location:
Birmingham
West Midlands
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Upwood on a low level training exercise, between 500 and 600 feet. Approaching the city of Birmingham in poor visibility, the airplane collided with the cable of a barrage balloon. Upon impact, the right wing was severed and the airplane entered a dive before crashing in Bearwood, in the suburb of Birmingham. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Thomas Kyle, pilot,
Sgt Louis Stanhope De Lisser, observer,
Sgt Ernest Scott, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Collision with the cable of a barrage balloon.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Birmingham: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
T1892
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Swanton Morley - Swanton Morley
Location:
Birmingham
West Midlands
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Swanton Morley at 2034LT on an operation to Lorient. It collided with a barrage balloon cable and crashed southwest of Birmingham. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Ian Murray Shirlaw, pilot
P/O Cyril Peter Dugdale, observer,
F/O John Olaf Mair, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Collision with a barrage balloon cable.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-1 near Birmingham

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.88
Operator:
Registration:
M7+CH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
3079
Location:
Birmingham
West Midlands
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by the British Flak and is believed to have crashed in the area of Birmingham. All four crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Lt Günther Grunwald, pilot, +3.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the British Flak.
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