Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73P in Croydon

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1935 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.73
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brussels – Croydon
MSN:
30002
YOM:
1935
Location:
Croydon
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Upon landing, the three engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All four crew members evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boulton & Paul P.71A in Brussels

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1935 at 0256 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boulton & Paul P.71
Operator:
Registration:
G-ACOY
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Croydon – Brussels
MSN:
P.71A/2
YOM:
1934
Location:
Brussels
Flemish Brabant
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Brussels-Haren Airport at night, the twin engine aircraft impacted the ground and crashed 10 metres short of runway. All 15 occupants were rescued, among them seven were injured, two seriously. The aircraft named 'Britomart' was damaged beyond repair.

Ground accident of a Short L.17 Scylla in Brussels

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Short L.17 Scylla
Operator:
Registration:
G-ACJK
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brussels – Croydon
MSN:
02
YOM:
1934
Location:
Brussels
Flemish Brabant
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing for takeoff at Brussels Airport, the four engine aircraft was blown up by gusty winds and came to rest upside down. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Sabca F.VIIb/3m in Senlis

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Sabca F7
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AGK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris – Brussels
Location:
Senlis
Oise
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Senlis while on a flight from Paris-Le Bourget to Brussels. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all occupants escaped uninjured.

Crash of an Avro 618 Ten in Ruiselede: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1933 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 618 Ten
Operator:
Registration:
G-ABLU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cologne - Brussels - Croydon
MSN:
528
YOM:
1931
Location:
Ruiselede
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was completing an international schedule service from Cologne to Croydon with an intermediate stop in Brussels. The aircraft departed Brussels-Haren Airport at 1220LT with eight passengers and two crew members on board. While overflying the West Flanders, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Apparently lost, the crew deviated from the prescribed flight path by 15 km when the captain decided to reduce his altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground. At a height of about 250 feet, the airplane collided with a 270 metres high radio antenna. Upon impact, the right wing was torn off and the airplane crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants were killed, among them seven British, two Dutch and one Polish.

Crash of a Sabca F7b/3m in Dortmund: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1933 at 1345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sabca F7
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AIE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brussels - Dortmund
Location:
Dortmund
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to Dortmund Airport, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Too low, the airplane impacted a tree and crashed. Three occupants were injured while two others were killed.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.154 Argosy II in Diksmuide: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1933 at 1425 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.154 Argosy
Operator:
Registration:
G-AACI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cologne – Bruxelles – Croydon
MSN:
AW.363
YOM:
1928
Location:
Diksmuide
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Captain / Total flying hours:
4000
Circumstances:
Named 'City of Liverpool', the aircraft departed Brussels-Haren Airport at 1336LT, about 30 minutes beyond schedule. It passed over Gent at 1400LT and was approaching Roeselare. While cruising at an altitude of 4,300 feet and at a speed of 95 knots, the radio navigator informed ATC that all was OK on board. Few minutes later, an intense fire broke out in the cabin. Immediately, the pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. But from a height of some 200 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a flat attitude in an open field, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and all 15 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Investigations revealed that no technical failure occurred on wings or engines. A quick and violent fire broke out in the cabin, maybe in a luggage or in the toilet compartment for reasons that could not be determined. The fire was very intensive as no one in the cabin was able to use the fire extinguisher. Investigators thought about a criminal act but Imperial Airways declared few months later that the responsibility of any of the passenger could not be proven.

Crash of a Sabca F7b/3m in Melle: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1931 at 2345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Sabca F7
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AIL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brussels - Croydon
Location:
Melle
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night mail flight from Brussels to Croydon and departed Brussels-Haren Airport at 2327LT. Some 15 minutes later, the crew encountered foggy conditions and decided to return to Brussels after he contacted his base. Apparently to maintain a visual contact with the ground, the pilot reduced his altitude when the right wing hit the ground. The aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Gabriel Dery, pilot,
Pierre De Ceuster, flight engineer.

Crash of a Sabca F7b/3m in Croydon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Sabca F7
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AIN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Croydon – Brussels
Location:
Croydon
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control and crashed, bursting into flames. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were marginal with mist and rain, and the visibility was limited due to the night. It appears that a fire erupted in the cabin shortly after rotation but the cause of the fire was not defined.
Crew:
Edouard G. L. Sobry, pilot,
Fernand Cooremans, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Fire on board for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Farman F.63bis Goliath in Brussels

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Farman F.63bis Goliath
Operator:
Société Générale des Transports Aériens - SGTA
Registration:
F-FARI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris – Cologne
MSN:
26
YOM:
1922
Location:
Brussels
Flemish Brabant
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Paris-Le Bourget on a regular schedule service to Cologne, carrying three passengers and two crew members. While approaching the Ardennes, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with reduced visibility due to thick fog. The pilot decided to divert to Brussels Airport where the aircraft landed safely. Shortly after takeoff, one of the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in an open field and came to rest. All five occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It already made an emergency landing due to an engine failure four days prior to the accident, on October 19, in Monteille, Calvados.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing due to an engine failure shortly after takeoff.
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