Zone
Hampshire

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland V off Lee-on-The-Solent: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1946 at 0448 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
VB885
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Calshot - Karachi
Location:
Lee-on-the-Solent
Hampshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
In the early hours of February 13th, 1946, VB885, an almost new Sunderland took off from RAF Calshot on a ferry flight to Karachi. Immediately after takeoff, an engine failed and the pilot decided to return to Calshot. The first attempt at landing was aborted and the aircraft went round for another approach. However, in the dark and with apparently poor visibility, the pilot apparently misjudged his rate of descent and at 0448LT, after a flight lasting 22 minutes, the aircraft crashed into the sea 100 yards off Lee-on-The-Solent. All ten crew were killed.
Crew (302nd FTU):
P/O K. Dollin, pilot,
F/O R. B. Couchman, copilot,
F/Sgt Hamish Ian Sandison,
F/Sgt R. M. Anderson,
Sgt H. Barker,
Sgt G. Granger,
Sgt M. O'Donoghue,
Sgt H. O'Keefe,
F/Sgt L. E. Snook,
F/Sgt R. C. Stevens.
Source: http://www.hampshireairfields.co.uk/airfields/vb885.html
Probable cause:
Possible error in not feathering the engine number four that failed after takeoff. Maybe the clutch failed as well in which case the reaction of the pilot was correct in not feathering the engine. It was also confirmed that there was no defect on carburetor, magnetos or plugs.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Lee-on-Solent

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1945
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
NF866
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lee-on-Solent - Lee-on-Solent
MSN:
6737
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lee-on-the-Solent
Hampshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a solo training flight at Lee-on-Solent Airfield, on behalf of the 799th Squadron. While flying in the vicinity of the airport, the engine failed, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot was unhurt.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I off Lee-on-Solent

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1942 at 0655 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
L7317
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
Location:
Lee-on-the-Solent
Hampshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Coningsby at 2240LT on April 14 on a bombing mission to Dortmund, Germany. Following an uneventful flight, the aircraft returned to its base in UK. While approaching the British coast, both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion. The captain decided to divert to the Lee-on-Solent NAS but the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea few hundred yards off shore. All seven crew were rescued while the aircraft sunk.
Crew (106th Squadron):
P/O J. A. Worswick,
Sgt Jones,
Sgt O'Hare,
F/Sgt Spiby,
Sgt Hutchieson,
Sgt Goodings,
Sgt Cartwright.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Miles M.3B Falcon Six off Lee-on-the-Solent

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Miles M.3B Falcon Major
Operator:
Registration:
W9373
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
248
YOM:
1935
Location:
Lee-on-the-Solent
Hampshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane took off from HMS Daedalus and crashed into water off Lee-on-the-Solent. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.
Crew:
L/Cdr A. M. Pilling, pilot.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus off Southampton: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 9, 1940 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Supermarine Walrus
Operator:
Registration:
L2225
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Lee-on-Solent - Lee-on-Solent
Location:
Southampton
Hampshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a solo training flight out from RNAS Lee-on-Solent. Upon landing on the Solent, the float plane overturned and crashed. The pilot Midshipman Peter Lewis Atkinson was killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot failed to retract the landing gear after takeoff from RNAS Lee-on-Solent.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I off Ryde

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1940 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Blackburn B-26 Botha
Operator:
Registration:
L6111
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Lee-on-Solent - Lee-on-Solent
MSN:
7860/8
YOM:
1939
Location:
Ryde
Isle of Wight
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a mine laying practice flight out from RAF Lee-on-the-Solent and took off in the morning. While cruising between Ryde and Gosport, the pilot encountered technical problems and decided to ditch the aircraft off Ryde, Isle of Wight. All four occupants found refuge in a dinghy then the aircraft sank by a depth of 22 meters.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus I in Lee-on-Solent

Date & Time: May 19, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Supermarine Walrus
Operator:
Registration:
L2309
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Lee-on-the-Solent
Hampshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing, the seaplane went out of control and hit the shore. All three crew members escaped uninjured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Lee-on-the-Solent: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1931
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
K1203
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lee-on-the-Solent - Lee-on-the-Solent
MSN:
1515
YOM:
1930
Location:
Lee-on-the-Solent
Hampshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Lee-on-the-Solent Airport for a local training flight. While completing aerobatics, the crew lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in Hillhead, west of the airfield. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/O John Buralem Mackenzie,
F/O Arthur George Teideman.
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