Crash of a Fokker F3 in Hythe

Date & Time: May 17, 1922 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
H-NABT
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Amsterdam - Rotterdam - Croydon
MSN:
1532
YOM:
1921
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Captain / Total flying hours:
700
Captain / Total hours on type:
25.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Rotterdam-Waalhaven Airport at 1214LT and the pilot landed at Calais where it stopped for about 45 minutes for weather improvement. While cruising over The Channel and approaching the English coast, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to fog and low clouds. He continued along the shore and arrived in Hythe, Kent, when the aircraft hit a tree and crashed in a field. All four occupants were rescued and one passenger was slightly injured. At the time of the accident, visibility did not exceed 75 yards.
Crew:
W. Warnaar, pilot.

Crash of a Farman F.60 Goliath in Thieuloy-Saint-Antoine: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1922 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-GEAD
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Paris - Croydon
MSN:
23
YOM:
1920
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a regular schedule flight from Paris-Le Bourget to Croydon with three passengers and a crew of two on board. While cruising at a height of 500 feet in foggy conditions, the aircraft collided with a De Havilland DH.18A operated by Daimler Airway and registered G-EAWO. It appears that the DH.18 hit the upper left wing of the Farman which detached. Both aircraft crashed in an open field (a piece of wing crashed on the roof of a house) and were destroyed. While the British pilot was seriously injured, all other six occupants were killed. The only survivor died from his injuries few hours later. The collision occurred in Thieuloy-Saint-Antoine, some four km south of Grandvilliers and 27 km north of Beauvais, Oise. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced due to fog. First collision in commercial aviation history.
Crew:
Jean Mire, pilot
Mr. Simonet, mechanic
Passengers:
Mr Bouriez, engineer by CGEA,
Mr & Mrs Christopher Bruce Yule, American citizens who were on honeymoon and travelling back to the US via London.
Probable cause:
Both crews were apparently trying to maintain visual contact with the ground while flying under a low overcast, and must have simply failed to see each other in time to prevent the accident. It was also reported that G-EAWO had been slightly to the left of the proper course, maybe due to the inexperience of the pilot on this line. Priority rules should be the same in aviation as on the road but in the present case, experts confirmed these rules were not the same in UK and France. So new priority rules will come into force following this tragic event.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.18A in Thieuloy-Saint-Antoine: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1922 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAWO
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Croydon - Paris
MSN:
DH.18/04
YOM:
1921
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a regular schedule flight from Paris-Le Bourget to Croydon with three passengers and a crew of two on board. While cruising at a height of 500 feet in foggy conditions, the aircraft collided with a De Havilland DH.18A operated by Daimler Airway and registered G-EAWO. It appears that the DH.18 hit the upper left wing of the Farman which detached. Both aircraft crashed in an open field (a piece of wing crashed on the roof of a house) and were destroyed. While the British pilot was seriously injured, all other six occupants were killed. The only survivor died from his injuries few hours later. The collision occurred in Thieuloy-Saint-Antoine, some four km south of Grandvilliers and 27 km north of Beauvais, Oise. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced due to fog. First collision in commercial aviation history.
Crew:
Robin E. Duke, pilot
Edward Hesterman, steward.
Probable cause:
Both crews were apparently trying to maintain visual contact with the ground while flying under a low overcast, and must have simply failed to see each other in time to prevent the accident. It was also reported that G-EAWO had been slightly to the left of the proper course, maybe due to the inexperience of the pilot on this line. Priority rules should be the same in aviation as on the road but in the present case, experts confirmed these rules were not the same in UK and France. So new priority rules will come into force following this tragic event.

Crash of a BAT F.K.26 in Croydon

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1922
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAPK
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris – Croydon
MSN:
FK.26/32
YOM:
1920
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on approach to Croydon Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Handley Page HP.11 in Senlis

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1922
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EATN
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Croydon - Paris
MSN:
HP.43
YOM:
1920
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Croydon to Paris, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to land at Beauvais Airport. The crew called Paris Airport and was advised that the weather had improved slightly, so he decided to take off and proceed to Paris. While approaching Paris, the crew encountered poor visibility due to fog and low clouds. He descended too early and too low when the aircraft impacted ground and crashed in an open field located in Senlis, some 30 km northeast of Le Bourget Airport. The aircraft came to rest almost vertically on its nose. All three passengers escaped unhurt and both crew members were injured.
Crew:
Cpt R. H. McIntosh,
Wireless operator S. A. Freddy Dismore.

Crash of a Handley Page HP.11 in Berck-sur-Mer

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1921 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EATM
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris – London
MSN:
HP.42
YOM:
1920
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 1120LT on a regular schedule service to Croydon. En route, one of the engine overheated. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in Berck-sur-Mer. There were no casualties and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine overheating.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.6 in Croydon

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAAB
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croydon - Croydon
MSN:
K100
YOM:
1919
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a local radio test flight on behalf of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company. Shortly after takeoff, aircraft stalled and crashed. The pilot was slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 504K in Croydon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAZF
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Croydon - Croydon
MSN:
H7426
YOM:
1921
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a test flight out from Croydon Airport before the aircraft would be delivered to the Belgian Air Force. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the airplane went out of control and crashed. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of a Fokker F3 in Rotterdam

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
H-NABL
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croydon - Rotterdam
MSN:
1533
YOM:
1921
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was performing a night mail flight from Rotterdam to Croydon. While flying over The Channel, the pilot encountered foggy conditions and decided to return to Rotterdam. On approach to Waalhaven, the aircraft impacted ground and came to rest. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was rebuilt with another MSN 1530 and registration H-NABR.

Crash of a Breguet 14T Bis in Croydon

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-ADBN
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris – Croydon
MSN:
1913
YOM:
1921
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an unventful mail flight from Paris-Le Bourget, the pilot was approaching Croydon Airfield when he encountere strong winds and lost control of the airplane that crashed in Wallingont, west of the aerodrome. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot Rousselin escaped with minor injuries.
Probable cause:
Loss of control due to high winds.