Isle of Portland | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after takeoff, the copilot reported that the flight was returning with the right engine shut down. Seconds later, the tower controller saw a fire. The airplane collided with level terrain, 3,450 feet from the end of runway 21 in a 75° to 80° nose down attitude. The right engine propeller was found in the feathered position. The left engine indicated evidence that it was producing power at the time of impact. A fatigue crack was found that separated the head from the barrel on the number eight cylinder of the right engine. No other evidence was found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction. Both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain airspeed. Factors to the accident were: cylinder fatigue, dark night and stall encountered.

Final Report:

Crash of a Handley Page HP.137 Jetstream T.2 off Portland: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 1989

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.137 Jetstream

Operator:

Registration:

XX489

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

279

YOM:

1975

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The crew was taking part to the 'Sea Cadet Open Day' in Portland and was completing a low pass when control was lost. The aircraft crashed in the sea few hundred yards offshore. Both pilots were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the pilot had omitted to re-advance the pitch control levers.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 31 off Isle of Portland: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1949 at 1110 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 170 Freighter

Operator:

Registration:

G-AIFF

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Bristol - Bristol

MSN:

12766

YOM:

1946

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The crew consisting of pilots and engineers of the Bristol Aeroplane Company left Bristol-Filton Airport at 1003LT for a test flight to obtain engine and propeller datas in specific flight conditions. While cruising off the Isle of Portland, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and dove into The Channel. Some debris were found 26 km off the Portland's lighthouse and all seven crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control caused by a structural failure in flight. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the structural failure.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-4 on the Isle of Portland: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Registration:

M2+LL

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

1558

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While on an operation to England, the airplane was shot down by the British Flak and crashed on the Isle of Portland. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Oblt Horst Becker, pilot,
Uffz Richard Gurklies, observer,
Uffz Helmut Kording, radio operator,
Gefr Josef Rother, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the British Flak.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC off Isle of Portland: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

R1519

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Waterbeach - Waterbeach

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The airplane departed RAF Waterbeach at 1602LT on January 3 on an operation to Brest. While returning to base the following night and approaching the British coast, it crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Isle of Portland. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Albert John Copping, pilot,
F/Sgt John William Colpitts,
F/Sgt Baxter Froude,
Sgt Aubrey Harold Shattock,
Sgt Arthur Ronald William Smith,
P/O Raymond Bowen Thomas.

Crash of a Dornier DO.217E-1 off Isle of Portland: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1941 at 1037 LT

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO.217

Operator:

Registration:

U5+EM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Évreux - Évreux

MSN:

1022

YOM:

1941

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The airplane departed Évreux Airfield on an anti-shipping operation off the south coast of England. Approaching Dorset, it was shot down by a British fighter and crashed in The Channel off the Isle of Portland. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Anton Wieners, pilot,
Uffz Hansgeorg Welker, observer,
Ofw Helmut Klöden, radio operator,
Uffz Gottfried Klose, mechanic.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off the Isle of Portland

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1939 at 2030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

K8711

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

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The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight our from RAF Thorney Island. While cruising at night, the crew encountered poor visibility due to thick fog. Short of fuel, the captain decided to ditch the airplane some three km northeast of the Isle of Portland. All four crew members were rescued and the aircraft later sank.
Crew:
Sgt Bodien, pilot,
Sgt Williams, copilot,
AC1 D. Hider,
AC1 Fog.