Croydon | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

This DH.18 was the first prototype delivered to AT&T. Shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, while on an international schedule flight to Paris-Le Bourget, the pilot encountered technical problems. The aircraft lost height and crashed in an open field located in Wallington, southwest of Croydon. All 9 occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Technical failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.16 in Swanley Junction

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1920 at 2230 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.16

Operator:

Registration:

G-EARU

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Paris - Croydon

MSN:

P.59

YOM:

1920

Location:

Country:

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Pax on board:

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Circumstances:

The pilot, Captain Bayliss, was performing a regular schedule flight from Paris-Le Bourget to Croydon. En route, south of Maidstone, Kent, he encountered technical problems and made an emergency landing in a field located in Marden. All four passengers disembarked and continued their trip to London by train. During the day, the airplane was repaired and took off again in the evening to Croydon, this time with three passengers on board, the farmer (owner of the field where the pilot completed the emergency landing), his wife and a friend. While cruising south of Dartford in twilight, the pilot encountered engine trouble and elected to make another emergency landing. He reduced his altitude and elected to land in Swanley Junction. Upon landing in a cornfield, the aircraft crashed and came to rest upside down. The pilot and two passengers were slightly injured while another passenger (Mrs Madeline Day), was seriously injured. She died one year later at the age of 28 from kidney failure which the coroner concluded at the inquest, was directly attributable to the accident.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4A off Folkestone

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1919

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.4

Operator:

Registration:

G-EAHG

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Interlaken - Paris - Croydon

MSN:

F2694

YOM:

1919

Location:

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Circumstances:

The pilot, Major-General Edward James Montagu-Stuart-Wortley, was returning to Croydon following an exhibition in Interlaken, Switzerland. After a fuel stop in Paris-Le Bourget, he continued to his base in Croydon. While overflying The Channel and approaching the British coast, he encountered foggy conditions and the visibility was low. Eventually, the aircraft crashed in the sea off Folkestone, Kent. The pilot was rescued while the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4A in Newcastle: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1919 at 0845 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.4

Operator:

Registration:

G-EAEW

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Croydon – Newcastle

MSN:

G7/67

YOM:

1919

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Newcastle, the engine lost power. The aircraft stalled and crashed few km from the airport. The passenger was injured and the pilot was killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.