Crash of an Avro 652 Anson T.21 near Llandudno: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VV955
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bovingdon – Ballykelly
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from RAF Bovingdon to RAF Ballykelly on behalf of the coastal communications commando. While in cruising altitude, the crew was informed about the deterioration of the weather conditions at destination and was instructed to divert to RAF Valley. Shortly later, while flying in clouds, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Tal y Fan. The aircraft was demolished and all three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta T.3 near RAF Bovingdon: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1954 at 1720 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WJ474
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bovingdon – Thorney Island
MSN:
599
YOM:
22
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The crew was flying back to his base at RAF Thorney Island after he took part to a rugby game at RAF Bovingdon. The departure was completed in poor weather conditions with low visibility due to snow falls. While climbing to a height of 400 feet, the pilot-in-command made a turn to the left when the aircraft hit trees and crashed in a wooded area located five miles north of the airfield. A passenger was seriously injured while 16 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact, except the rear part of the fuselage.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. However, the following findings were reported:
- Low visibility due to snow falls,
- The plane was carrying one extra passenger, despite having only 16 passenger seats. However, this was not considered as a contributory factor,
- weather was not considered as a factor,
- An assumption was made that the pilot was trying to fly within sight of the ground, in conditions of poor visibility.

Crash of an Avro 689 Tudor 5 in RAF Bovingdon

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-AKCC
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Castel Benito – Bovingdon
MSN:
1421
YOM:
1947
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While descending to RAF Bovingdon, the crew was informed about the presence of a cloud base at 1,100 feet and decided to continue below this altitude for a visual approach. As the aircraft was not properly aligned with runway 22, the pilot-in-command attempted a go around. Few minutes later, while on a second attempt to land, the aircraft was again not properly aligned with runway 22 and eventually landed on its right side. The airplane rolled for several dozen yards before coming to rest in flames. While all seven occupants were evacuated safely, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot-in-command took the decision to continue the approach to runway 22 despite the fact that the aircraft was not properly aligned with runway 22 and failed to take the appropriate action which consisted to attempt a second go around.

Crash of a Vickers 639 Viking 1 in Bordeaux

Date & Time: May 8, 1951 at 1412 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHPD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gibraltar – Bordeaux – Bovingdon
MSN:
134
YOM:
1946
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At 1610LT, the aircraft took off for Bovingdon, UK, while on a regular schedule flight from Gibraltar. On throttling down to initial climbing speed, at a height of 50 meters the pilot noted that the speed of the port engine was rapidly decreasing. He shut off this engine and feathered the propeller, opening the starboard engine full out. He then became aware that the aircraft could not maintain its safety speed without losing height and decided to make a wheels up landing on an open space south of the aerodrome. The aircraft slid along the ground for about 100 meters, slewed around and came to a standstill. The copilot was injured, however, the remaining four crew members and twenty-six passengers were unharmed.
Probable cause:
The disconnecting of the articulated control rod of the propeller governor due to the lack of a split pin on the governor spindle and to the nut of the ball-joint of the control spindle having been unscrewed by force.
Final Report:

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

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1951
Operator:
Registration:
G-AJZY
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Göteborg – Bovingdon
MSN:
1322
YOM:
1945
Region:
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 an Airspeed AS.65 Consul in Seaton Carew AFB

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AJLH
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bovingdon – Seaton Carew
MSN:
5126
YOM:
1947
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown at RAF Seaton Carew, an undercarriage failed. The aircraft came to rest and was damaged beyond repair while both occupants were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage failure on landing.

Crash of an Avro 19/1 in RAF Bovingdon

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
G-AGPB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1271
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at RAF Bovingdon, the twin engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was performing a local flight on behalf of the British Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Crash of a Handley Page HP.70 Halifax VIII in Studham

Date & Time: May 23, 1948
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIZO
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Valencia - Bovingdon
MSN:
1366
YOM:
1947
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to RAF Bovingdon, the aircraft became unstable and the captain was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located in Studham, about 11 km north of the airbase. While all five occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was completing a cargo flight from Valencia, Spain, with a load of apricots.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control on approach was caused by the cargo that shifted, causing the CofG to move, necessitating an emergency landing.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK Dakota III in RAF Bovingdon: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1948 at 2330 LT
Registration:
G-AJBG
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Valence – Bovingdon
MSN:
14003/25448
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Valence-Chabeuil Airport at 2232LT on a cargo flight to RAF Bovingdon, carrying a crew of four and a load of fruits. On a night approach, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to a low ceiling. During the last turn, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area located few dozen yards from the airport. A crew member was rescued while three others were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the aircraft stalled during the last turn due to an insufficient speed.

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

Date & Time: May 13, 1948
Operator:
Registration:
F-BCJX
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1347
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at RAF Bovingdon, while completing a cargo flight, the four engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.