Coventry | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Crash of an Aérospatiale SN.601 Corvette off Nice: 10 killed

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1979 at 1820 LT

Type of aircraft:

Aérospatiale SN.601 Corvette

Operator:

Registration:

OY-SBS

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Copenhagen – Stockholm – Coventry – Nice

MSN:

YOM:

1975

Flight number:

NB4133

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

3400

Captain / Total hours on type:

270.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2056

Copilot / Total hours on type:

113

Aircraft flight hours:

5161

Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane was completing an on-demand taxi flight from Copenhagen to Nice with intermediate stops in Stockholm and Coventry, carrying members from the Corporate of the Swedish Group Atlas Copco. On final approach to Nice-Côte d'Azur Airport, while completing a last turn, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea about one km short of runway 05 threshold. Few debris were found floating on water while the main wreckage sank in a canyon by a depth of about 1,500 meters. All 10 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the accident was the consequence of a stall on final approach after both engines stopped quite simultaneously. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the right engine failure while it is believed that the left engine stopped following the failure of the accessory drive gearbox. This resulted from the evolution of fatigue cracks observed on other engines of the same type.

Final Report:

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V near Bingley: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

T4225

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Baginton - Prestwick

MSN:

1898

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was in charge to convoy the aircraft from Baginton (Coventry) to Prestwick. While cruising at a too low altitude, the bomber impacted a hill and crashed in High Eldwick, near Bingley. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Crew (4th FPP):
F/O Thomas Dowell Trouncer, pilot.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Coventry: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

P1336

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a night training mission when the airplane collided with the Coventry balloon barrage and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O James Melville Dundas Irvine, pilot,
Sgt John Raymond Collingham, observer,
AC1 Sydney Ewbank Firth, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Loss of control following an in-flight collision with a barrage balloon.

Crash of a Saro A.29 Cloud in Walsgrave

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Saro A.29 Cloud

Operator:

Registration:

K3723

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

A-26/7

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was conducting a training mission when an engine failed. The pilot attempted an emergency in a field located in Walsgrave, in the suburb of Coventry. All three crew escaped unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Spartan Three Seater in Coventry

Date & Time: May 10, 1936

Type of aircraft:

Spartan Three Seater I/II

Operator:

Air Trips

Registration:

G-ABKK

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

YOM:

1931

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Westwood Airfield, the single engine aircraft collided with an Avro 504N registered G-AECR. The Avro 504 landed safely while the Spartan crashed in a wheat field, injuring his pilot who was taking part to a the British Empire Air Display.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.30 in Aston Clinton: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 22, 1934

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.30

Operator:

National Aviation Displays

Registration:

G-EBMM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Refuelling

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Portsmouth – Heston – Coventry

MSN:

W.10/1

YOM:

1926

Location:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was being used as a tanker (it had extra fuel stored in the rear cabin) and was returning from Portsmouth to Coventry after a mid-air refueling mission of an Airspeed Courier aircraft being used by Cobham for a long distant flight to India. Shortly after takeoff from Heston Aerodrome, while climbing, the aircraft named 'Youth of New Zealand' crashed in a field, killing all four crew members (one pilot, two mechanics and one aeronautical apprentice).

Probable cause:

The Inspector of Accidents concluded that the probable cause was a fracture of a main bolt that secured the bracing wires of the front spar to the tail. The failure of the bolt would cause a loss of control, failure of the bolt was probably fatigue. The aircraft had been involved in an early accident when the tail had been swapped with one from another aircraft, but after 50 hours of flying since the repair, it was not thought that the bolt had been disturbed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9J in Coventry: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1929

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.9

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBOQ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Coventry - Coventry

MSN:

282

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Sole on board, the pilot was completing a local training flight out from Coventry Airport. On approach, he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in Whitley Abbey, north of the airfield. The pilot was seriously injured and died from his injuries 18 days later, on July 27.

Crash of an Avro 504N in Coventry

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1923

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBHC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Coventry - Coventry

MSN:

R3/LY/10331

YOM:

1923

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local test flight. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Baginton. While both occupants were slightly injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.