Chippenham | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Lyneham, consisting of takeoff and landings with one engine inoperative. Following a low pass over RAF Lyneham, the crew continued to the northwest when control was lost. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in a field located five miles northwest of Chippenham. Two crew members were killed while the third occupant was seriously injured. He died from his injuries eight days later.

Probable cause:

The crew voluntarily shut down the right engine to simulate a failure and switched off the fuel system. While climbing, the crew elected to restart the right engine but forgot to switch the fuel system on. Due to insufficient speed, the airplane lost height, stalled and eventually crashed.

Crash of a Convair B-36H-25-CF Peacemaker near Chippenham

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Convair B-36 Peacemaker

Operator:

Registration:

51-5719

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Site:

Schedule:

Carswell – Goose Bay – Fairford

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was on its way from Carswell AFB to RAF Fairford with an intermediate stop in Goose Bay, taking part to the 'Operation Styleshow', consisting of a transfer of 18 Convair B-26 from the US to the UK. While approaching RAF Fairford, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Despite a GCA approach, the pilot-in-command was unable to locate the airbase due to low visibility, made a go around and followed a holding pattern north of the airfield. Later, a second attempt to land was aborted and the crew continued to the north. Due to fuel starvation, the captain ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. The heavy bomber continued to the south for 50 km and eventually crashed in an open field located southeast of Chippenham, Wiltshire. All 14 occupants were safe, except one who broke his leg on landing.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a fuel starvation because the crew was unable to land at RAF Fairford. An inexperienced GCA personnel at RAF Fairford and an under-manned aircraft crew were considered as contributory factors.