London | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

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 Sikorsky S-38B off Angmagssalik

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1932

Type of aircraft:

Sikorsky S-38

Operator:

George R. Hutchinson

Registration:

NC159H

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

New York – London

MSN:

114-19

YOM:

1929

Location:

Angmagssalik (Tasiilaq)

Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq

Country:

Greenland

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Owned by the American Lt Colonel George R. Hutchinson, the seaplane was on its way from New York to London on a private and nonstop transatlantic flight with seven passengers and a crew of two on board. En route, the crew encountered snow falls and the aircraft was too heavy due to snow accumulation. The pilot attempted an emergency landing off the Greenland coast but after landing, the airplane struck an iceberg and was seriously damaged. Several distress calls were sent but the aircraft moved on rough seas. The aircraft was eventually localized by the crew of the British fishing trawler named 'Lord Talbot' on September 18, five days after the accident, some 40 miles southwest of Angmagssalik (Tasiilaq). All nine occupants were rescued and repatriated to Europe. Lt Colonel Hutchinson was travelling with his wife Blanche and his two girls, Kathryn (8) and Janet Lee (6). The aircraft was lost and abandoned as a wing was torn off.
Crew:
Lt Colonel George R. Hutchinson +1.
Passengers:
Blanche Hutchinson,
Kathryn Hutchinson,
Janet Lee Hutchinson,
Peter Redpath,
Joseph Ruff,
Gerald Altfilisch,
Norman Alley, American filmmaker.

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

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1931

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

G-CAKY

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

London - Clinton

MSN:

577

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Clinton at night, the crew was unable to locate the runway due to darkness. At low speed, the airplane stalled and crashed short of runway. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 618 Ten in Alor Setar

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1931

Type of aircraft:

Avro 618 Ten

Operator:

Registration:

VH-UNA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Hobart – Sydney – Alor Setar – London

MSN:

388

YOM:

1930

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, the three engine airplane encountered difficulties to gain height. It stalled and crashed in a rice paddy field located past the runway end. All four occupants escaped with minor injuries and the airplane named 'Southern Sun' was damaged beyond repair. It departed Hobart and a mail flight to London with intermediate stops in Sydney and Alor Setar, carrying a load consisting of 52,000 Christmas' letters for a total weight of 1,500 kilos.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be established. However, the takeoff roll has been completed from a terrain whose surface was soaked by recent rains. So, the performances of the aircraft may have been reduced until the rotation. A power loss of the center engine was also suspected.

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.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.66 Hercules in Cairo

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1930

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.66 Hercules

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBNA

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

London - Cairo

MSN:

240

YOM:

1925

Location:

Cairo

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed London on an international service to India, carrying four passengers and three crew members. On approach to Cairo Airport by night, the visibility was poor and the pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was insufficient. The airplane impacted ground and crashed near the city of Giza, in the suburb of Cairo. All seven occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft named 'City of Tehran' was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Stinson SM-1 Detroiter in the Atlantic Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1927

Type of aircraft:

Stinson SM-1 Detroiter

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

London - Harbour Grace - London

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Named 'Sir John Carling', this Stinson Detroiter was owned by the Canadian company Carling Breweries that financed this nonstop transatlantic flight from London (Ontario) to London, UK. The crew consisted of both pilots Jerry Tully and Elsie James Medcalf. They departed London that day and made a technical stop in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, before continuing to England. The aircraft disappeared en route and was never recovered.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9C off Venice: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1922

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.9

Operator:

Registration:

G-EAYT

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Venice - London

MSN:

YOM:

1921

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Venice Airport, while climbing, the aircraft named 'Atlanta' crashed in the sea and sank. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of an Avro 504L in Horsham

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1920 at 1630 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Registration:

G-EALO

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Eastbourne - London

MSN:

YOM:

1919

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Eastbourne on a taxi flight to London, carrying two passengers and one pilot. En route, he encountered engine problems and elected to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crash landed in an open field located at Amies Mill Farm near Horsham. All three occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.