Zone
Durham

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide near Edale

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1963
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Solair Flying Services
Registration:
G-ALBC
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Aerial photography
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Middleton Saint George – Birmingham
MSN:
6572
YOM:
1948
Location:
Edale
Derbyshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on a flight from Middleton St. George to Birmingham, and the crew of one pilot and one photographer planned to complete several photographic survey jobs en route. Shortly after sunset, when flying at 2,000 ft. a.m.s.l. at an estimated position five miles west of Sheffield and near high ground rising to 2,000 ft. a.m.s.l., the pilot decided that the fuel remaining was insufficient to reach Birmingham with the existing headwind of 40 knots. He established contact with Manchester Approach Control and was given permission to divert to Manchester Airport on a special VFR clearance "not above 3,500 ft. a.m.s.l. on a QNH of 1013 mbs., clear of all cloud, and in sight of the surface". Shortly after this, when on a north-westerly heading to intercept a QDM of 270°M to the 'ME' (Manchester) beacon, the pilot saw hill tops about four miles ahead and commenced climbing from 2,000 ft. to 3,500 ft. The pilot states that the aircraft entered cloud at 2,500 ft. and that, on reaching 2,700 ft., he noticed that the vertical speed indicator was showing a descent of 2,000 ft./min. He states that he applied full power and eased the nose up but, after this, he remembers nothing further until he regained consciousness lying on the ground, alongside the photographer in front of the wrecked aircraft.
Probable cause:
Examination at the scene of the accident showed that the aircraft had struck the ground, in a normal cruising attitude and at a low engine power setting, at a point 1,990 ft. a.m.s.l. An aftercast of the weather conditions showed that the cloud base over the hills at the time of the accident probably varied between 1,800 and 3,000 ft. a.m.s.l., the wind at 2,000 to 3,000 ft. was 240°/45-50 knots, and horizontal visibility was 1 1/2-3 n.m. with some turbulence over high ground. "Sigmet" warnings broadcast by Preston A.T.C.C, and in force at the time of the accident, gave warning that locally severe turbulence, up to FL 100 over high ground in the Preston FIR had been forecast. From the information available, however, it was not possible to determine whether significant downdrafts existed in the area where the crash occurred.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in Horam: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1950 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 619 Wellington X
Operator:
Registration:
NC615
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Middleton Saint George - Middleton Saint George
Location:
Horam
East Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Middleton Saint George at 1845LT on a night navigation exercice. At 2137LT, the crew informed ground that the mission was uneventful until this time. Twenty-three minutes later, the aircraft went into a dive. At an altitude of 1,000 feet, it partially disintegrated and eventually crashed in a pasture. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
S. J. Murdoch, pilot,
F/Lt W. A. Ryde, navigator,
F/Lt H. Seiman, navigator,
Sig A. E. Bazen.
Probable cause:
The aircraft broke in flight due to exceptional aerodynamic and other stresses.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Middleton Saint George: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 619 Wellington X
Operator:
Registration:
NC430
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Demonstration
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Middleton Saint George - Middleton Saint George
Location:
Middleton St George AFB
Durham
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
During an airshow in RAF Middleton Saint George, the crew was involved in a demonstration mission consisting of para-dropping a low height. On final approach, during the last segment, the airplane nosed down and crashed at runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the technique adopted by the crew to drop the paratroopers was wrong. After the lateral door was closed, it appears that the air flow along the rudder and the elevator changed due to the presence of the paratroopers. This caused the aircraft to adopt a wrong attitude and the response from the crew was inappropriate.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson T.21 in Exhall: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1949 at 0945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
VV243
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Mepal
Location:
Exhall
Warwickshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising in VFR mode over the region of Coventry at an altitude of 4,500 feet, the Anson collided with a BEA C-47 registered G-AHCW and carrying four crew members and six passengers from Northolt to Glasgow. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in Exhall, north of Coventry. All 14 occupants in both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
The accident was the result of a midair collision. Since neither aircraft took any apparent avoiding action it must be concluded that the pilot of the Anson did not see the Dakota and that the pilots of the Dakota did not see the Anson. This must be attributed to failure on the part of the captain of each aircraft to ensure the maintenance of an effective lookout.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at RAF Middleton St George

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1942 at 1155 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
V4139
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
Location:
Middleton St George AFB
Durham
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Middleton Saint George. On final approach, at an altitude of 600 feet, the airplane suffered a loss of engine power, stalled and crashed. All three crew members were injured.
Crew:
S/L I. R. C. MacPherson,
P/O D. K. Hulme,
P/O A. E. Holt.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power on final approach.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II at RAF Middleton St George

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II
Operator:
Registration:
L9611
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
Location:
Middleton St George AFB
Durham
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the airplane crashed almost immediately after takeoff from RAF Middleton St George. All crew members were injured.
Crew:
Sgt F. W. Anderson.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I at RAF Middleton Saint George

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I
Operator:
Registration:
L9578
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
Location:
Middleton St George AFB
Durham
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a local training exercise at RAF Middleton St George. After landing, the undercarriage collapsed and the airplane was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
Sgt J. B. Stark +3.
Probable cause:
The undercarriage collapsed upon landing.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II off Batz Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II
Operator:
Registration:
L9615
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
Location:
Batz Island
Finistère
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George at 1122LT on an operation to Brest. Approaching the French coast, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea off Batz Island. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Lawrence Blair,
Sgt Frederick Eaton,
Sgt William Ralph Gates,
P/O Douglas Stuart King,
Sgt Peter Davies Randall,
Sgt Hubert John Toski,
Sgt Stanley Maurice Wilson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I at RAF Middleton Saint George

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1941 at 2335 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I
Operator:
Registration:
L9604
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
Location:
Middleton St George AFB
Durham
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George at 1718LT on an operation to Hamburg. While returning to base in the late evening, it crashed upon landing and was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
Sgt G. R. Herbert,
Sgt J. H. G. Bingham,
Sgt Street,
Sgt M. H. Roberts,
Sgt J. B. Fanning,
Sgt Fulton,
Sgt M. C. Glover.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I into the North Sea: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax I
Operator:
Registration:
L9602
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Middleton St George - Middleton St George
Location:
North Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Middleton St George at 1917LT on an operation to Dunkirk. It failed to return to base and is believed to have crash somewhere in the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
P/O Francis Conn Brooks,
F/Sgt James Flannigan,
Sgt John Rudolph Johnson,
Sgt James Mycock,
P/O Neil Frederick McLean,
F/Sgt Charles Stuart O'Brien,
Sgt Charles Edward Wood.
Subscribe to Middleton St George AFB