Stanton | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane was engaged in a fighter affiliation exercise out from RAF Newmarket, carrying nine crew members, among them one member of the Royal Artillery. En route, the airplane suffered a structural failure, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in Stanton. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/O Michael Andean Coote, pilot,
Sgt Robert Samuel Holden, wireless operator,
F/Sgt John George Ypres Boyle, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Albert Adderly, air gunner,
AC1 William Gilchrist Boyce,
AC1 John Capp,
Lac Alfred William Hughes,
Cdt Bryon Vernon Long,
Cdt Donald Roderick White.

Probable cause:

The starboard main spar assembly failed outboard from the engine, causing a loss of control.

Crash of a Spartan Three Seater I in Stanton: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1932

Type of aircraft:

Spartan Three Seater I/II

Operator:

Registration:

G-ABTT

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Heston – Norwich

MSN:

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route from Heston to Norwich, while taking part to the 'Morning Post' Air Race, the pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed into trees near Stanton, Suffolk. The pilot Frank George Gibbons was killed.

Probable cause:

It was believed that the pilot was looking at a map inside the cockpit at the time of the accident. Poor weather conditions may also have contributed to the accident.