Phoenix-Sky Harbor | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was completing a local training flight at Phoenix-Sky Harbor Airport. While cruising in the vicinity of the airfield, the pilot informed ATC about an engine fire and elected to return for an emergency landing when control was lost. The airplane crash in flames into a residential area located near the airport. The airplane and three houses were destroyed. Both pilots were killed while no one on the ground was injured.

Probable cause:

Engine fire in flight for undetermined reason.

Final Report:

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I near Rodeo: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1942 at 1315 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 152 Beaufort

Operator:

Registration:

W6473

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Phoenix - Abilene

MSN:

9478

YOM:

1940

Location:

Rodeo

New Mexico

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a series of demo flights in the US. En route from Phoenix to Abilene, the left engine failed and later fell off. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in a desert area located between Rodeo and Lordsburg, bursting into flames. A crew was killed and three others were slightly injured. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Crew:
S/L N. K. Lloyd, pilot,
F/Lt P. A. Kimpton, navigator, †
Cpl J. R. Berth-Jones, rigger,
AC1 R. West, fitter.

Probable cause:

The crankshaft of the port engine failed in flight, causing severe vibration and fire. The engine later fell off.