Oxford

While in cruise flight in a level six thunderstorm over the Atlantic Ocean, the pilot reported the airplane's 'gyro' had failed. The airplane then began a left turn and disappeared off radar. The airplane and its occupants were located on the ocean floor about 48 days after the accident. The airplane had broken apart in-flight. The outboard section of each wing and the tail section were not recovered. The airplane's pneumatic system was destroyed. According to fss records, the pilot had been briefed on the weather along his route of flight.

According to witnesses, the weather was changing from minute to minute as the aircraft was arriving. Witnesses reported the wind was blowing from east to northeast at 10 to 15 knots, rain fall was varying from strong to periods of light rain, and the ceiling (cloud level) was variable. The pilot began an ILS runway 36 approach; however, before reaching the airport, the aircraft collided with trees and crashed about 2 miles short of the runway. The pilot was seriously injured and could not remember the accident, but did recalled receiving a wind shear alert. The pilot reported an intermittent problem with the autopilot heading mode; however, no other preimpact malfunction or failure of the acft was evident. All five occupants were injured, two seriously.

The crew was engaged in a training exercise out from RAF Abingdon. While passing over the city of Oxford, the airplane suffered an engine failure. It first hi the western bank of the River Cherwell the slid up Linton Road and eventually crashed on a cottage. All three crew members were killed as well as one people on the ground.
Crew:
P/O Charles Nairn Small, pilot,
P/O William Alexander Munro Halley, observer,
Sgt John Alfred Mochan, wireless operator.
The person who wer killed on the ground was Frances Emma Hitchox.

While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed 8 km north of Oxford. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Alexander John Stuart Buller, pilot,
Sgt Alan MacMillan, observer,
LAC George Davison, air gunner.

The pilot departed Woodley on a local solo flight. En route, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a prairie located in Port Meadow, in Oxford. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.