Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.154 Argosy II in Diksmuide: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1933 at 1425 LT
Operator:
Registration:
G-AACI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cologne – Bruxelles – Croydon
MSN:
AW.363
YOM:
1928
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Captain / Total flying hours:
4000
Circumstances:
Named 'City of Liverpool', the aircraft departed Brussels-Haren Airport at 1336LT, about 30 minutes beyond schedule. It passed over Gent at 1400LT and was approaching Roeselare. While cruising at an altitude of 4,300 feet and at a speed of 95 knots, the radio navigator informed ATC that all was OK on board. Few minutes later, an intense fire broke out in the cabin. Immediately, the pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. But from a height of some 200 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a flat attitude in an open field, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and all 15 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Investigations revealed that no technical failure occurred on wings or engines. A quick and violent fire broke out in the cabin, maybe in a luggage or in the toilet compartment for reasons that could not be determined. The fire was very intensive as no one in the cabin was able to use the fire extinguisher. Investigators thought about a criminal act but Imperial Airways declared few months later that the responsibility of any of the passenger could not be proven.

Crash of an Avro 504N at Goetsenhoven AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Goetsenhoven AFB - Goetsenhoven AFB
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances at Goetsenhoven AFB while completing a local training flight. The pilot Joseph Ghislain Bataire, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of an Avro 504N at Brasschaat AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While approaching Brasschaat AFB, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed, bursting into flames. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of an Avro 504 in Elsenborn

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A-59
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 3,300 metres, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field. Both pilots were rescued.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight following the failure of a rudder control cable.

Crash of a Breguet 19 in Courtrai: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Courtrai - Goetsenhoven
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances shortly after takeoff from Courtrai-Wevelgem Airport. Both pilots Justin Denis Patron and René Eulalie van Boogaert were killed.

Crash of a Sabca F7b/3m in Melle: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1931 at 2345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AIL
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Brussels - Croydon
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a night mail flight from Brussels to Croydon and departed Brussels-Haren Airport at 2327LT. Some 15 minutes later, the crew encountered foggy conditions and decided to return to Brussels after he contacted his base. Apparently to maintain a visual contact with the ground, the pilot reduced his altitude when the right wing hit the ground. The aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
Gabriel Dery, pilot,
Pierre De Ceuster, flight engineer.

Crash of a Breguet 19 in Aywaille: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1717
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Reims – Metz
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Reims on a flight to Metz. At destination, he encountered poor weather conditions with a thick layer of clouds. The aircraft deviated to the north by 150 km before crashing in a field located in Aywaille. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Col Maurice Happe, pilot,
Roger Huet, mechanic.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9 in Goetsenhoven: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1930
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-13
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Goetsenhoven AFB - Goetsenhoven AFB
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft crashed in the vicinity of the Goetsenhoven airbase while performing a local training mission. Both pilots Henri Édouard Depasse and Raymond Grosjean were killed.

Crash of a Farman F.63bis Goliath in Brussels

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
F-FARI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Paris – Cologne
MSN:
26
YOM:
1922
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Paris-Le Bourget on a regular schedule service to Cologne, carrying three passengers and two crew members. While approaching the Ardennes, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with reduced visibility due to thick fog. The pilot decided to divert to Brussels Airport where the aircraft landed safely. Shortly after takeoff, one of the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in an open field and came to rest. All five occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It already made an emergency landing due to an engine failure four days prior to the accident, on October 19, in Monteille, Calvados.
Probable cause:
Emergency landing due to an engine failure shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Sabca W.8 in Edegem

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1929
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AHK
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brussels - Antwerp
MSN:
2
YOM:
1924
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Brussels-Haren Airport on a taxi flight to Antwerp, carrying 10 passengers and two crew members on behalf of the Touring Club de Belgique. While approaching Antwerp, the left engine caught fire. The crew reduced his altitude and made an emergency landing in an open field located in Edegem, about 4 km south of Antwerp Airport. The aircraft came to rest, bursting into flames. All 12 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
The left engine caught fire in flight.