Delivery | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft departed Longreach Airport at 0530LT bound for Brisbane with a crew of two and two passengers on board. Less than 20 minutes later, while flying at a height of some 1,000 feet, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a prairie. Quickly on the scene, local residents were able to evacuate the captain who was seriously injured while all three others occupants were killed. Unfortunately, the captain died from his injuries few hours later. Weather conditions were excellent at the time of the accident and the crew was performing a delivery flight from London when the accident occurred. The aircraft was named 'Adelaide'.
Crew:
R. A. Prendergast, pilot,
W. C. Creastes, copilot.
Passengers:
F. R. Charlton, engineer by Imperial Airways,
E. H. Broadfoot, serviceman by Shell Company at Sydney-Mascot Airport.

Probable cause:

Investigators expressed concern at apparent defects in the forward pin post, posing the question that a failure in that component apparently caused the loss of control. Further investigation revealed that VH-USG had been loaded with a spare engine in the rear of the cabin, and that one of the crew members was in the lavatory in the extreme aft of the cabin when control was lost. It was theorized that the aft center of gravity condition that thus existed resulted in a loss-of-control at an altitude insufficient for recovery (the aircraft was at an estimated height of 1,000 ft (300 m) prior to the crash.

Crash of a Northrop Delta 1B in Mexico: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1934

Type of aircraft:

Northrop Delta

Operator:

Registration:

XA-BED

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

MSN:

YOM:

1933

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The crew was completing a flight from the US to Mexico to deliver the airplane to the Mexican operator Aerovias Centrales. While cruising over Mexico, the aircraft suffered an in-flight explosion and crashed, killing both crew members.

Crash of a Putilov Stal-2 in Zalivnaya: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1934 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Putilov Stal-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L1127

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Moscow – Penza – Samara – Orenburg – Tashkent

MSN:

127

YOM:

1934

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The aircraft departed Moscow on February 19 to be delivered to its new base in Tashkent. Intermediate stops were scheduled in Penza, Samara and Orenburg. On the leg from Samara to Orenburg, after a trip of about 205 km, the crew encountered engine problems and made an emergency landing. Due to technical problems, poor weather conditions and awaiting fuel from Orenburg, the crew was stuck for 18 days. Following several engine tests and after all defaults were eliminated, the crew took off on March 11 back to Samara. While flying at a height of 250-300 metres, the engine failed again. The pilot attempted an emergency landing and initiated a turn when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded area located 3 km from the Zalivnaya Station. The aircraft was totally destroyed and both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control consecutive to a stall during a turn completed at low altitude following an engine failure in a difficult environment.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth into the North Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1933

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth

Operator:

Wilhelm M. Omsted

Registration:

G-ABZM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Heston – Olso

MSN:

4018

YOM:

1932

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The aircraft was on its delivery flight from Heston to Oslo. While overflying the North Sea, it crashed in unknown circumstances. A piece of a wing was discovered on February 2 but no trace of the wreckage nor the two occupants was ever found.
Crew:
Sigurd J. Aagenaes, pilot.
Passenger:
Wilhelm M. Omsted.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth into The Channel: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1931

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

George D. Mallinson

Registration:

G-AACL

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Paris - Croydon - Brooklands

MSN:

887

YOM:

1929

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The aircraft was owned by the British citizen George D. Mallinson and piloted by Charles Job who arrived in Paris on 28FEB1931 to take delivery of the aircraft. While cruising over The Channel in a snowstorm, the aircraft disappeared. No trace of the aircraft nor the pilot was ever found. It should be transferred to Brooklands via Croydon.

Crash of a Vickers FB.27 Vimy Commercial in Westwoodside: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1931

Type of aircraft:

Vickers FB.27 Vimy Commercial

Operator:

Registration:

F9178

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Brooklands – Digby

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The crew departed Brooklands Airport on a night delivery flight to Digby. On board were four crew members and the aircraft was coming out from the Vickers-Armstrong facilities at Brooklands Airport. En route, the crew apparently lost his orientation. The pilot reduced his altitude when the aircraft struck a bank and crashed in an open field. A crew member was injured while three others were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Geoffrey Maynard Edward Shaw, †
P/O John Edward Furlong Chapman, †
F/Sgt Alfred George Rogers, †
AC1 Cecil Alfred James Jones.

Probable cause:

An inquest was held at Westwoodside on January 13 on the bodies of Flt Lt G. M. E. Shaw, Pilot Officer J. E. F. Chapman and Flt Sgt A. G. Rogers who were killed on the night of January 11 during a flight from Brooklands to Digby. Aircraftman Cecil Jones, who was the only survivor of the accident, said that they were flying low in the bad light to try and read the name of the railway station. They ascended again and prepared to land on what appeared to be a green field. The aeroplane overshot this field and landed in a ploughed field. It struck a bank only about a foot high and turned up on its nose, crushing the three men who were in the front. Flying Officer H. Bailey said that Flight Lieutenant Shaw had lost his way. A verdict of misadventure was returned.

Crash of a Junkers W.34ci near Villa Constitución: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1930 at 0330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers W.34

Operator:

Registration:

Còndor de Bolivia

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

El Palomar – La Paz

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The aircraft named 'Còndor de Bolivia' departed El Palomar AFB in Buenos Aires at 0130LT on a delivery flight to La Paz, carrying three crew members. About two hours later, the airplane went out of control and crashed in a swampy area located about 20 km north of Villa Constitución. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Lucio Luizaga,
Cpt Horacio Vásquez,
1st Lt Horacio Borda.

Crash of a Lockheed 5 Vega in Clovis: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1929

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 5 Vega

Operator:

Middle States Airlines - MSA

Registration:

NC870E

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

YOM:

1929

Location:

Clovis

New Mexico

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

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Brand new, the aircraft was on its way to be delivered to its new owner, Middle States Airlines. On board were four employees of the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation: two pilots and two engineers. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a prairie. All four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane while searching for a cockpit vent cover blown from an airplane on takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed 5 Vega in Randsburg: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1929

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 5 Vega

Operator:

Registration:

NC393H

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Los Angeles – Chicago

MSN:

YOM:

1929

Location:

Randsburg

California

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

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The pilot, sole on board, departed Los Angeles on a flight to Chicago, the aircraft having to be delivered to its new owner, the General Tire & Rubber Company. While cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet, weather conditions deteriorated with thunderstorm activity. Due to severe turbulences, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and disintegrated. The pilot Virgil Cline was killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control in stormy weather.

Crash of a Dornier Do J Wal in Basra: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1929

Type of aircraft:

Dornier Do J Wal

Operator:

Registration:

D-22

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Texel - Basra - Batavia

MSN:

YOM:

1929

Location:

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The seaplane was on a delivery flight from The Netherlands to the Dutch Indies. It crashed in unknown circumstances in Basra, Iraq. The pilot P. S. Everts was killed while both other occupants were seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

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