Zone
Surrey

Crash of a Lockheed 18-08 LodeStar off Elbe Island: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
R.A. Brand & Company
Registration:
G-AKPD
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Croydon – Rome
MSN:
1429
YOM:
1948
Location:
Elbe Island
Tuscany
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
En route from Croydon to Rome, the aircraft disappeared into the Tyrrhenian Sea and the crew was unable to send any distress call. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted. After few hours, Italian Authorities sent an official request to France and Switzerland to ask if the aircraft may have crash on their territory but no trace of the aircraft was found. All operations were suspended after few days. On November 13, 1948, few debris were found floating on the sea few km off Elbe Island. No trace of the eight occupants was found.
Probable cause:
Due to lack of evidence, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.65 Consul in Bern

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.65 Consul
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIUZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Croydon – Geneva
MSN:
5105
YOM:
1947
Location:
Bern
Bern
Country:
Switzerland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Bern, while on a flight from Croydon to Geneva. All three occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.65 Consul near El Alamein

Date & Time: May 24, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.65 Consul
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIOU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Croydon – Cairo
MSN:
4355
YOM:
1946
Location:
El Alamein
Matruh
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to make an emergency landing in a desert area located about 26 km south of El Alamein. All four occupants were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.65 Consul near Lyon

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1948 at 1440 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.65 Consul
Operator:
Chartair - UK
Registration:
G-AIOM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Croydon – Lyon
MSN:
4347
YOM:
1946
Location:
Lyon-Bron
Rhône
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Lyon-Bron, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and decided to make an emergency landing. The twin engine aircraft belly landed in a flooded field located 10 km north of the airport and came to rest. All three occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Saint Boniface Down: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIWW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Croydon – Jersey
YOM:
1946
Location:
Saint Boniface Down
Isle of Wight
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Croydon on a cargo flight to Jersey, carrying a load of newspapers. While flying over the Isle of Wight, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with clouds down to 700 feet. Due to low visibility, the pilot did not realize he was off course and his altitude was too low when the twin engine aircraft hit the pylon of a radar and crashed in a prairie located near Saint Boniface Down. Both occupants, pilot E. G. Snowden and radio operator R. J. Corrie were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a navigational error on part of the crew.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Croydon

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Southern Aerowork
Registration:
G-AIXT
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20520
YOM:
1946
Location:
Croydon
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff from Croydon Airport for unknown reason. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Miles M.57 Aerovan IV in Croydon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Miles M.57 Aerovan
Operator:
North Sea Air Transport
Registration:
G-AISG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6405
YOM:
1946
Location:
Croydon
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed. The passenger and the pilot were injured while the captain was killed. The crew was performing a cargo flight with a load of 604 racing pigeons.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft exceeded the MTOW of 202 kilos at the time of the accident, which caused the aircraft to stall after rotation.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.65 Consul in Tatsfield: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1947 at 1955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.65 Consul
Operator:
Milburn Air
Registration:
G-AIOZ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris - Croydon
MSN:
4335
YOM:
1946
Location:
Tatsfield
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While approaching Croydon Airport on a flight from Paris-Le Bourget, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in Tatsfield, about 7 miles southeast of Croydon. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed, among them R. A. Milburn, pilot, co-owner and founder of this company.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson I in Croydon

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
CL Air Surveys
Registration:
G-AHKJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Croydon - Croydon
YOM:
1946
Location:
Croydon
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an aerial photography mission, the twin engine aircraft was returning to Croydon Airport when, on final approach, it crashed in a field short of runway. Both occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Ground accident of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Croydon

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1947 at 1141 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
OK-WDB
Flight Phase:
Parking
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
9503
YOM:
1943
Location:
Croydon
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Parked on the apron and subject to a maintenance control by two technicians, the aircraft was destroyed by fire after being hit by a Spencer Airways C-47 registered VP-YFD that crashed on takeoff. Both technicians were slightly injured.
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