London | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The pilot attempted to take off from a private grass airstrip (2,400 feet long) located at 22678 Purple Hill Road, about 13,5 km north of London Airport, Ontario. The aircraft failed to get airborne and eventually came to rest in a cornfield. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and both occupants were injured. A witness observed smoke coming from the aircraft's wheels and the pilot suspected that the parking brake was not fully disengaged.

Crash of a Grumman G-73 Mallard in London

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Grumman G-73 Mallard

Operator:

Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario

Registration:

CF-GEU

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

J-33

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from London Airport, the crew reported severe icing conditions. The captain elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in Crumlin, near the airfield. There were no casualties while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Beechcraft D18S in London: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1949 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft D18

Operator:

Registration:

NC90511

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Executive/Corporate/Business

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Midland - Boston

MSN:

A-376

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft departed Midland Airport, Michigan, at 0910LT bound for Boston, carrying four passengers and two pilots. A little more than an hour into the flight, after passing over London, Ontario, the crew encountered difficulties and contacted London Airport and declared an emergency situation. The crew decided to divert to London Airport and reduced his altitude. While flying in poor weather conditions, the airplane passed just over a house (12 feet high) then crashed in flames in an open field. A passenger was able to evacuate the cabin and was slightly injured while five other occupants were killed. The aircraft was destroyed. The main passenger, Willard Dow, President of the Dow Chemical Company, was enroute to Boston to take part to a conference given by Winston Churchill. It appears that the regular crew refused to perform the flight due to extreme poor weather conditions (stormy weather approaching from the east). Thus, Mr. Dow asked a second crew to complete the flight.
Crew:
A. J. Bowie, pilot, †
Fred Clements, copilot. †
Passengers:
Willard Dow, †
Martha Dow, †
Calvin Campbell,
Mrs. Campbell. †

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control was the consequence of an excessive accumulation of ice on the wings and the fuselage.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in London

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1932

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

G-CAVU

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

London - London

MSN:

862

YOM:

1929

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the aircraft impacted power cables and crashed, bursting into flames. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth in London

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1930

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

G-CALC

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

London - London

MSN:

581

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Upon landing, the single engine airplane overturned and came to rest upside down. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and both pilots were injured.