Croydon | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Few minutes after takeoff from Croydon Airport, bound for Berlin with an intermediate stop in Amsterdam, the crew encountered foggy conditions. The captain decided to return to Croydon and reduced his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground. While flying in the vicinity of Godstone, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. Three occupants were seriously injured while six other occupants were killed. Few hours later, one of the survivor (Prince Eugen of Schaumburg-Lippe) died from his injuries. Only the copilot and a passenger survived. The aircraft was named 'Oberschlesien'.

Crash of an Avro 548 in Welling: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1929

Type of aircraft:

Avro 548

Operator:

Registration:

G-AABW

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Biggin Hill – Croydon

MSN:

G516

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Biggin Hill on a taxi flight to Croydon, carrying one passenger and one pilot. En route, in unknown circumstances, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed near the Weeling Station. The pilot Arthur Norman Brunning was killed and the pilot Stanley Victor Annis was injured.

Crash of a Fokker-Grulich F3 in Croydon

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1929

Type of aircraft:

Fokker-Grulich F3

Operator:

British Air Lines - BAL

Registration:

G-AALC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

City

Schedule:

Croydon – Le Touquet

MSN:

1558

YOM:

1929

Location:

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Shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, the airplane suffered technical problems, lost height and crashed onto a house located in Plough Lane, north of the airfield. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all six occupants were escaped with minor injuries. No one on the ground was injured.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.30 off Dungeness: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 17, 1929 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.30

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBMT

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Croydon – Paris – Basel – Zurich

MSN:

W.10/4

YOM:

1925

Location:

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While overflying the Channel at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the right engine failed. The pilot attempted to return to England but some three miles off Dungeness, as he was unable to maintain a safe altitude, he ditched the aircraft. Both crew and four passengers escaped and were slightly injured while all seven other occupants were killed. The aircraft was named 'City of Ottawa'.
Crew:
Rudolf Paul David Brailli, pilot,
Nigel Robert Barnett, flight engineer.

Probable cause:

The right engine stopped following the failure of the fourth connecting rod due to fatigue.

Final Report:

Crash of a Farman F.63bis Goliath in Paddock Wood

Date & Time: May 19, 1929

Type of aircraft:

Farman F.63bis Goliath

Operator:

Registration:

F-GEAI

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Croydon – Paris

MSN:

YOM:

1921

Location:

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While cruising east of Tonbridge, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing due to unknown technical problems. The aircraft crashed in a field located near the Paddock Wood railway station, bursting into flames. Both crew members escaped with minor injuries and the aircraft named 'Vendée' was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9 in Croydon

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1928

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.9

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBEP

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

City

MSN:

D5799

YOM:

1922

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control, crashed onto a house and eventually came to rest in a garden located in Sanderstead, south of the airport. All three occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft and the house were demolished.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.50A in Plymouth

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1928

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.50

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBKZ

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Plymouth – Croydon

MSN:

133

YOM:

1925

Location:

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Shortly after takeoff from Plymouth, the single engine airplane crashed for unknown reason. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 74 Vulcan in Purley: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1928

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Vulcan

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBLB

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Croydon - Croydon

MSN:

YOM:

1925

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

As the engine has been changed the day prior to the accident, the pilot was engaged in a test flight with an inspector of the Civil Aviation Authority. Due to the nature of the flight, four employees of Imperial Airways were authorized to take part of the flight. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the aircraft crashed into a market garden near Leigh Cottage on Woodcote Road, it was seen by residents flying low over the rooftops with the engine "evidently in difficulties". The accident occurred in a potato field located 3 miles south of the airport, in Purley. As the pilot was ejected on impact and was uninjured, he helped one of the passengers from the enclosed cabin free. Shortly later, the aircraft burst into flames and it was not possible to rescue the other passengers. The four passengers (two male and two females) were killed and later evidence was that at least one had died due to the impact and the others were unconscious before the fire.

Probable cause:

The pilot Captain John Spafford gave his evidence to the inquest, he had been informed at 11:50 that the aircraft needed an engine test and he was to also take five passengers and some ballast. Spafford calculated that his weight would be under the full load and that on the ground the engine sounded normal. "When I was about 700 feet I pushed the nose down to maintain height and noticed that the aircraft began to sink rapidly. I increased the throttle to little effect and then started to look for a safe landing place, but the area was full of high trees and houses. I increased the throttle and was able to hold height for a few minutes and then noticed the engine water temperature was over 100 degrees centigrade and I could see steam from the left hand engine cowling. The engine lost power again and I saw a chance to land in some allotments, I pushed the control down to 45 degrees and hit the ground at the same angle. I was trapped by my foot and released myself after about two minutes, as I freed myself the engine caught fire. I managed to get to the door of the cabin and only one of the passengers was conscious." Spafford agreed with the coroner that the presence of passengers were not required for an engine test. After further questioning of the pilot the jury returned a verdict of accidental death in all four case. The coroner added that the practice of allowing employees of the airline to go as passengers on test flight should stop. The engineering superintendent from Imperial Airways said that the airline would discontinue the practice.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth in Tabora

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1928

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Mary Bailey

Registration:

G-EBSF

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Croydon - Cape Town

MSN:

415

YOM:

1927

Location:

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Circumstances:

The owner of the airplane, Lady Mary Bailey, was attempting a solo flight from Croydon, Surrey, to Cape Town, South Africa. Approaching Tabora Airport, Tanganyika, the aircraft went out of control and crashed. While the sole occupant was injured, the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Farman F.60 Goliath off Folkestone: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1928

Type of aircraft:

Farman F.60 Goliath

Operator:

Registration:

F-AEFC

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Paris – Croydon

MSN:

YOM:

1922

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport on a mail flight to Croydon. While cruising over The Channel in heavy snow falls, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in the sea off Folkestone. Both crew members were killed, among them André Schutz. The airplane was named 'Provence'.