Irish Sea | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane was dispatched in a maritime patrol flight and was flying over the Irish Sea when the right engine caught fire in flight. The pilot elected to divert to the RAF Machrihanish located on the west coast of the Mull of Kintyre but the right engine detached few minutes later. The crew eventually ditched the airplane few km south of the Scottish coast. All 14 occupants were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Probable cause:

In-flight fire of the right engine for unknown reasons.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.114 2 Heron into the Irish Sea

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1972

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.114 Heron

Operator:

Registration:

XR444

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

14091

YOM:

1955

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While flying over the Irish Sea on a liaison flight, all four engines stopped simultaneously. The crew reduced his altitude and ditched the aircraft. All 11 occupants were quickly rescued and the aircraft was later recovered. It was written off.

Probable cause:

It was reported that the wing fuel tanks had not been selected thus starving the engines of fuel.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I into the Irish Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1946 at 2110 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

MG437

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Jurby - Jurby

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The crew was completing a reconnaissance flight following the recent lost of a RAF Wellington registered LP764. While flying over the Irish Sea at a very low altitude, the twin engine aircraft hit the mast of a boat and crashed into the sea. The aircraft sank rapidly and was lost. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (5th ANS):
John Thomas Marcham Crow 4.

Crash of a Vickers 440 Wellington X into the Irish Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 440 Wellington X

Operator:

Registration:

LP764

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Londonderry – Andreas

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Enroute from Londonderry to RAF Andreas, while overflying the Irish Sea, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V into the Irish Sea: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

Z9215

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Chivenor - Chivenor

MSN:

2320

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed RAF Chivenor on an operational mission over the English Channel. En route, both engine failed then caught fire. The airplane lost height and crashed into the Irish Sea some 100 km off Hartland Point, Devonshire. All six crew members were rescued by Royal Navy destroyer L115 but the wireless operator died a day later from injuries sustained.
Crew:
F/Sgt John Melville McDonald, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt R. E. Longard,
Sgt P. J. Russ,
Sgt B. Bushell,
Sgt J. A. Lovett,
Sgt J. G. Humphries.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Vickers 429 Wellington VIII into the Irish Sea: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 429 Wellington VIII

Operator:

Registration:

HF907

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Harwell - Harwell

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The airplane departed RAF Harwell on a map reading and fuel consumption test flight. In failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed into the Irish Sea off Anglesey. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt Norman Victor Lloyd, pilot,
Sgt James William Bingham Cockburn, wireless operator,
Sgt James William Ashby, air gunner,
Sgt Edwin Alfred Bailey,
Sgt Leslie James Grove,
Sgt William Hurley,
Lac Ronald Douglas Jeffrey MacDonald.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester IA into the Irish Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Avro 679 Manchester

Operator:

Registration:

L7418

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

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While on a training sortie, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the Irish Sea off the Pembrokeshire coast. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Sgt Frank Chapman,
Sgt Kenneth John Gill,
Sgt Alexander Joseph McHardy,
F/Sgt Ralph Ainsworth Post,
Sgt Ralph Ernest Warren.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha into the Irish Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6213

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

7866/10

YOM:

1940

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The airplane failed to return to base following a maritime patrol flight over the Codling Bank and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the Irish Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
W/O W. J. Jewell,
F/O M. Prusek,
F/O S. Gruszecki,
AC1 J. W. March.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC into the Irish Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

T2624

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

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While on training mission, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Irish Sea. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Frantisek Dittrich, pilot,
Sgt Karel Hurt,
Sgt Otakar Januj,
Sgt Jaroslav Polednik,
Sgt Jaroslav Rolenc.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV into the Irish Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L8758

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Watton - Watton

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The twin engine bomber crashed for unknown reasons into the Irish Sea while on a navigational training exercise. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt George Arthur Cole, wireless operator,
Sgt Derek Keith Glass,
Sgt Harry Walter Crouch Norman-Arterton.