Eastchurch AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

During the takeoff roll, the crew retracted the landing gear prematurely, causing the aircraft to sink on its belly and to crash. There were no casualties and the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Premature retraction of the undercarriage during takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Eastchurch

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1368

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Eastchurch - Eastchurch

MSN:

8651

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

After landing at RAF Eastchurch, the airplane encountered technical problems and was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and came to rest in a ditch. All three crew members evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 504N at RAF Eastchurch

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1933

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Registration:

K1800

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Eastchurch - Eastchurch

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, the Avro 504N collided with a RAF Armstrong Whitworth Atlas registered J9533. While the pilot of the Atlas was able to land without further problems, the Avro crashed in a field. Both crew members were injured.

Crash of a Fairey IIID at RAF Eastchurch: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1929 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fairey III

Operator:

Registration:

N9759

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Eastchurch - Eastchurch

MSN:

F.623

YOM:

1925

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Eastchurch. On approach, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Geoffrey Hugh Conningsby Ingle,
LAC Frank Nelson Howick,
AC2 George Henry Johnson.

Crash of a Fairey IIIF on the Isle of Grain: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1928 at 1105 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fairey III

Operator:

Registration:

S1168

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Eastchurch - Eastchurch

MSN:

F.893

YOM:

1927

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Eastchurch on a training flight. While flying over the Isle of Grain, the pilot-in-command made a sharp turn when the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Bean Maltman,
LAC Sydney Cresswell Mason,
AC2 William George Lowman.

Crash of a Vickers 115 Virginia VI at RAF Eastchurch: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1927

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Virginia

Operator:

Registration:

J7714

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

During the takeoff roll at RAF Eastchurch, the aircraft hit a parked DH.9 with a wing. The pilot continued the takeoff procedure. After liftoff, at a height of about 100 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O William James Kelly,
P/O John Frederick Dowdeswell,
F/Sgt Albert George Alderton,
AC2 Everett Daniels.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9A at RAF Eastchurch: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1926 at 1545 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.9

Operator:

Registration:

J7610

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Eastchurch - Eastchurch

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Eastchurch on a local training flight. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 500 feet, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed just outside the boundary of the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt George Frederick Taylor,
AC2 Percy Charles Hinton.