Crash of a De Havilland DH.4A in Cricklewood

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAVL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cricklewood - Paris
MSN:
H5905
YOM:
1920
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Cricklewood Aerodrome, while on a regular schedule flight to Paris-Le Bourget, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9B in Hounslow Heath

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1920
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAQA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Hounslow Heath - Paris
MSN:
P.36E
YOM:
1919
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, the aircraft stalled and crashed. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.12 in Cricklewood: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1920 at 1215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAMA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Cricklewood - Paris
MSN:
HP.25
YOM:
1919
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Cricklewood Airport in misty weather, the aircraft was seen flying low and then crashed into a tree, falling into a back garden of a house in Golders Green (No. 6 Basing Hill) close to the airfield. Four passengers jumped or were thrown clear before the aircraft burst into flames. Both crew members and two remaining passengers were killed in the fire. Of the survivors, two were unhurt and the other two only slightly injured. Locals rushed to help but due to the intense heat, the rescue efforts were futile. The Hendon Fire Brigade extinguished the fire and removed the bodies. The aircraft was destroyed and the newly built house was badly damaged.
Crew:
Maj R. W. Bager, pilot,
J. H. Williams, mechanic.
Probable cause:
The crash was caused by an error of judgement on part of the pilot who "needlessly" proceeded to take off towards a hill, the presence of which created a source of danger when considering the prevailing conditions and the aircraft’s low climb rate.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9B in Paris

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1920 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAQN
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croydon - Paris
MSN:
P.37E
YOM:
1920
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing at Paris-Le Bourget Airport. There were no injuries.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9B in Eltham

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1920
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAGX
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris - Croydon
MSN:
H9255
YOM:
1919
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight from Paris-Le Bourget. After overflying Kent and while cruising west of Dartford, the crew encountered problems and the aircraft crashed in Eltham, northeast of Croydon. Both crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.18 in Wallington

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1920
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EARI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croydon - Paris
MSN:
DH.18/1
YOM:
1920
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
This DH.18 was the first prototype delivered to AT&T. Shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, while on an international schedule flight to Paris-Le Bourget, the pilot encountered technical problems. The aircraft lost height and crashed in an open field located in Wallington, southwest of Croydon. All 9 occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Technical failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.16 in Swanley Junction

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1920 at 2230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EARU
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris - Croydon
MSN:
P.59
YOM:
1920
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, Captain Bayliss, was performing a regular schedule flight from Paris-Le Bourget to Croydon. En route, south of Maidstone, Kent, he encountered technical problems and made an emergency landing in a field located in Marden. All four passengers disembarked and continued their trip to London by train. During the day, the airplane was repaired and took off again in the evening to Croydon, this time with three passengers on board, the farmer (owner of the field where the pilot completed the emergency landing), his wife and a friend. While cruising south of Dartford in twilight, the pilot encountered engine trouble and elected to make another emergency landing. He reduced his altitude and elected to land in Swanley Junction. Upon landing in a cornfield, the aircraft crashed and came to rest upside down. The pilot and two passengers were slightly injured while another passenger (Mrs Madeline Day), was seriously injured. She died one year later at the age of 28 from kidney failure which the coroner concluded at the inquest, was directly attributable to the accident.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Nieuport-Delage NiD-30T in The Channel

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1920
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-CGTY
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Paris - Hounslow Heath
MSN:
6526
YOM:
1920
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Paris-Le Bourget on a mail flight to Hounslow Heath, London. While cruising over The Channel, he encountered thick fog when the airplane crashed in the sea in unknown circumstances. The pilot was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.16 off Beachy Head

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1920
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EACT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris - Hounslow Heath
MSN:
DH.16/1
YOM:
1919
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Thew pilot was performing a mail flight from Paris-Le Bourget to Hounslow Heath. While overflying the Channel, he encountered low visibility due to fog and his compass failed. He sighted a boat (SS Selarus) and circled around it to attract attention. Eventually, he ditched the aircraft off the Beachy Head coast, near Eastbourne. He was quickly rescued by the crew of the boat and the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Compass failure in poor weather conditions over the sea.