Croydon

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Brussels – Croydon

MSN:

YOM:

1934

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While taxiing for takeoff at Brussels Airport, the four engine aircraft was blown up by gusty winds and came to rest upside down. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Spartan Cruiser I off Le Tréport

Date & Time: May 11, 1935

Type of aircraft:

Spartan Cruiser

Operator:

Registration:

G-ABTY

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Paris – Croydon

MSN:

24M

YOM:

1932

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a cargo flight from Paris-Le Bourget to Croydon, carrying two crew members and a load of newspapers. While overflying The Channel, all three engines lost power. The pilot reduced his altitude and elected to ditch the aircraft some 13 km northwest of Le Tréport. Both occupants were quickly rescued by the crew of a fishing vessel and the aircraft sank five minutes after they got rescued.

Probable cause:

Power loss on all three engine for undetermined reasons.

Crash of a Farman F.306 in Brémontier-Merval: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1935 at 0315 LT

Type of aircraft:

Farman F.306

Operator:

Registration:

F-ALHQ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Paris – Croydon

MSN:

7243.2

YOM:

1931

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Captain / Total flying hours:

8000

Circumstances:

The aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 0030LT on this inaugural night cargo flight to Croydon, carrying one pilot, one radio navigator and one passenger. While cruising between the cities of Beauvais and Rouen, the pilot encountered foggy conditions. He decided to reduce his altitude and to return to Paris. Few minutes later, too low, the airplane impacted trees and crashed in a wooded area located in Brémontier-Merval, some 9 km northwest of Gournay-en-Bray. All three occupants were seriously injured and the pilot died from his injuries few hours later.
Crew:
Robert Bajac, Air France Chief Pilot, †
Jean Floret, radio navigator.
Passenger:
Jean Flitcroft, Air France Chief of Operations.

Probable cause:

One year after the accident, the French commission headed by General de Goÿs concluded that the crash was not caused by a crew mistake but by the aircraft which was hard to manage and unstable in flight. This commission also said that French Authorities gave permission to Air France to still operate this aircraft despite its known technical deficiencies.

Crash of an Avro 504K in Croydon

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1935

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Registration:

G-ABAY

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

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Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

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While taking off from Croydon Airport, the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed onto a building. Both occupants were injured.

Crash of a Wibault 283.T12 in Croydon

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1934

Type of aircraft:

Wibault 282/283

Operator:

Registration:

F-AMHO

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Schedule:

Paris – Croydon

MSN:

YOM:

1933

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Following an uneventful flight from Paris-Le Bourget, the airplane named 'Le Téméraire' crashed upon landing at Croydon Airport. All 10 occupants evacuated safely.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.5 Courier in Grenoble

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1934

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.5 Courier

Operator:

Air Taxis

Registration:

G-ACLS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Brindisi – Croydon

MSN:

YOM:

1934

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Crashed in unknown circumstances near Grenoble. The pilot Mr. Crundall was uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide off Folkestone: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1934 at 1050 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-ACPM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-213

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Croydon – Paris

MSN:

6251

YOM:

1934

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While overflying The Channel, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with light rain and fog. He decided to return but due to low visibility and while cruising under VFR mode in IFR conditions, he was unable to distinguish the water surface and eventually lost control of the aircraft that crashed into the sea some five km off Folkestone. All seven occupants were killed. First accident involving a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide.
Crew:
Walter Robert Bannister, pilot.
Passengers:
Louis Beigneuxl,
Jean Louis Bordaz,
Miss Phyllis Budden,
Andrew McGregor Ritchie,
Albert Paul de Sanno,
Helene Slabodsky.

Probable cause:

UK Air Ministry attributed the cause of the accident to a lack of skill and knowledge in matters of navigation on the part of the pilot. Significantly, it was noted in the investigative report that he lacked both a navigator’s license and previous experience in instrument flying. Evidence indicated that the pilot had followed the coastline, remaining below the clouds, rather than proceeding on a direct compass course to his destination. Apparently losing sight of land while over the Channel, he may have turned back towards the west in order to once again make visual contact with the coast of England. It was theorized that while in a gradual descent through the mist he failed to distinguish the glassy surface of the water in time to avoid the accident. The crash was believed to have occurred fewer than 10 minutes after a second request from the pilot to Croydon Aerodrome for a position. However, the delay and ultimate failure to provide bearing information was not considered a contributing factor.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-213 in Croydon: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1934 at 0505 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

F-AIVG

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Croydon – Paris

MSN:

YOM:

1928

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Croydon Airport on an early mail/cargo flight to Paris-Le Bourget. After takeoff shortly after 5am, while climbing in reduced visibility due to mist, the airplane collided with the mast of an antenna, stalled and crashed in the garden of a house located in Wallington. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Raymond Defives, pilot,
Edouard L'Huillier, radio navigator.

Crash of a Wibault 282T.12 off Dieppe: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1934 at 1220 LT

Type of aircraft:

Wibault 282/283

Operator:

Registration:

F-AMHP

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type: