Folkestone | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While overflying The Channel by night at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the port engine stopped. The captain feathered its propeller, informed ATC about his position and obtained the permission to divert to Manston Airport. Few minutes later, the right engine failed as well. The crew decided to ditch the aircraft about 12 km off Folkestone. After one hour, four crew members and two passengers were rescued by the crew of a boat while three other passengers drowned. The aircraft later sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

Failure of both engine in flight following a fuel exhaustion. It was determined that at the time of the accident, fuel tanks were empty as the aircraft was not refueled prior to takeoff from Geneva Airport. Investigations revealed that the crew requested to refuel before takeoff but for unknown reason, this operation was not completed. Also, both pilots failed to follow the pre-departure checklist and failed to check the fuel jauges prior to departure.

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

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1934 at 1050 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Operator:

Registration:

G-ACPM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

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 De Havilland DH.60G Moth of Folkestone

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1929 at 1515 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

John Scott-Taggart

Registration:

G-AADV

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

998

YOM:

1929

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Circumstances:

The pilot and his passenger departed Lympne Aerodrome in the afternoon. The pilot attempted to land with this float equipped airplane off Sandgate, Folkestone. But the sea was rough and the aircraft crashed on landing. Both occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

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

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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'.

Crash of a Blériot Spad 33 off Folkestone

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1924 at 1530 LT

Type of aircraft:

Blériot Spad 33

Operator:

Registration:

F-ADBH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Croydon - Paris

MSN:

YOM:

1921

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Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, departed Croydon Airport at 1430LT on a cargo flight to Paris-Le Bourget. About an hour into the flight, just passing over Kent, the pilot encountered technical problems and elected to ditch the aircraft off Copt Point in Folkestone. The pilot was quickly rescued by fishermen while the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Blériot Spad 33 off Folkestone: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1922 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Blériot Spad 33

Operator:

Registration:

F-ACMH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Croydon - Paris

MSN:

555

YOM:

1921

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After passing over Lympne, the aircraft has just entered over the English Channel when, from a height of about 1,500 feet, it entered a dive and crashed in the sea off Folkestone. The aircraft was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Paul Ernest Morin, pilot.
Passengers:
Paul Carroll,
Dr, Gordon Ley.

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

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1921 at 1433 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.4

Operator:

Registration:

O-BAIN

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Croydon - Brussels

MSN:

H5915

YOM:

1920

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Circumstances:

The pilot Prosper Georges was performing a cargo flight from Croydon to Brussels on behalf of SNETA, the Syndicat National pour l'Étude du Transport Aérien. The aircraft departed Croydon Airport at 1343LT and continued towards the east. While approaching The Channel, the visibility dropped due to mist and the pilot decided to return. During the last turn, the aircraft hit a hill near the pub called 'The Valiant Sailor' and crashed. The pilot was seriously injured and died from his injuries three days later.

Probable cause:

The Investigation Report for the incident says that the cargo was a mere 8.5lbs in weight and 150lbs of ballast. Mons.George was a very experienced pilot and had flown that type of aircraft on the same route many times before. O-BAIN was seen approaching the Dover-Folkestone road from the west and was dimly seen passing just over the roof of a farmhouse. It then turned to starboard, towards rising ground, and crashed in a field 546 feet above sea level. Just before impact it was noted that the engine appeared to be running satisfactorily. Examination of the wrecked Airco showed that the starboard plane had struck the ground first, an interplane and part of the bottom wing tip being embedded in the earth. From that point to where the main wreckage lay, a distance of 90 yards, the collapse of the parts of the machine could be traced from the marks on the ground. The entire fuselage was shattered as far back as the passengers cabin. All control cables were found to be intact and in serviceable condition. The accident was blamed on poor visibility.

Source: ASN.

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

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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.