Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at RAF Hullavington: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1954
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF391
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hullavington - Hullavington
MSN:
550
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Hullavington. During a Blind Approach Beam System (BABS) approach by night and marginal weather conditions, the pilot-in-command encountered difficulties to locate the runway and decided to make a go around. While climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed three miles from the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew was unable to locate the runway due to the combination of a reduced visibility due to the night and poor weather conditions and the failure of the instruments to locate the approach beacons. During the initial climb, the aircraft stalled due to an insufficient speed.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta T.3 off Hartland Point: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WG258
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hullavington - Hullavington
MSN:
506
YOM:
26
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew (six student-pilots and four pilots) left RAF Hullavington for a navigation training mission over the Celtic Sea. En route, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances few miles off the Hartland Point Lighthouse. All ten crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Hullavington: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1952
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RP319
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hullavington - Hullavington
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training sortie at RAF Hullavington. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing in freezing fog conditions, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, hit the corner of a hangar and crashed in flames. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft stalled during initial climb due to an excessive accumulation of frost on all surfaces. It is believed that the crew did not prepare the flight properly and failed to remove the contaminants prior to take off. Accumulation of frost on wings, fuselage and stabilizers increased weight, reduced lift and modified the aerodynamic properties.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Hullavington: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RP382
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hullavington - Hullavington
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Hullavington. On final approach by night and in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the ground 3 miles short of runway and crashed. Two crew members were killed while the third occupant was seriously injured. It was reported that the pilot in command was conducting the approach under visual flight rules and that the loss of control occurred while the crew was completing the approach briefing.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson T.21 in Little Sodbury: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VS582
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hullavington - Hullavington
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Hullavington. While approaching in poor weather conditions from the west, the twin engine aircraft became uncontrollable after improper handling on part of the copilot in command. The captain elected to regain control of the airplane that crashed in a field located southeast of Little Sodbury, about eight miles west of RAF Hullavington. Two crew members were killed while two others were seriously injured.
Crew:
F/Lt William Ellis Bowden, †
F/Lt Newton Mold, †
Cad L. G . Clarke,
Cad N. Orr.
Probable cause:
Improper actions by the copilot on approach led the aircraft to become uncontrollable. Several attempts to regain control by the captain were unsuccessful.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson T.21 in RAF Hullavington

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VS580
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hullavington - Hullavington
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Hullavington, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crash landed in a field. Both crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was reported that both engines lost power shortly after rotation for unknown reason. The crew was engaged in a local training mission.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power after rotation.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Hullavington: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LN819
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hullavington - Hullavington
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training sortie in RAF Hullavington. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb by night, the pilot in command informed ground that an engine failed and completed a turn to join the circuit when control was lost. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Hullavington

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PG265
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing, the aircraft went out of control, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in RAF Hullavington

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW182
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hullavington - Hullavington
MSN:
MW182
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training sortie in RAF Hullavington. The aircraft landed 200 yards after the runway threshold. On a relatively short runway, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest into a ditch. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It is reported that the crew was distracted by the presence of an obstacle near the runway threshold. Thus, the pilot in command decided to extend the approach and landed 200 yards after the runway threshold. Unfortunately, the runway length in RAF Hullavington is 3,400 feet only. In such conditions, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance.

Crash of a Stinson AT-19 at RAF Hullavington

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FB649
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
77-377
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At liftoff, the left wing dropped. The aircraft crashed and came to rest. All three crew members were rescued.