Crash of a Breguet 14T Bis in Croydon

Date & Time: Sep 17, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Breguet 14
Operator:
Registration:
F-ADBN
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Paris – Croydon
MSN:
1913
YOM:
1921
Location:
Croydon
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an unventful mail flight from Paris-Le Bourget, the pilot was approaching Croydon Airfield when he encountere strong winds and lost control of the airplane that crashed in Wallingont, west of the aerodrome. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot Rousselin escaped with minor injuries.
Probable cause:
Loss of control due to high winds.

Crash of a Farman F.60 Goliath off Calais: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1921 at 1332 LT
Type of aircraft:
Farman F.60 Goliath
Operator:
Registration:
O-BLAN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Croydon - Brussels
MSN:
17/7248
YOM:
1920
Location:
Calais
Pas-de-Calais
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Croydon to Brussels-Haren Airport, a daily mail service, with a crew of two on board. While overflying The Channel, the aircraft caught fire and crashed in the sea some 6 km off Calais, France. The crew of a tug-boat named 'Champion' arrived on the scene but found only some debris floating on water and no trace of both crew members who were later considered as deceased.
Crew:
Lt Paul Delsenne, pilot
Raymond Rijckers, mechanic.

French pilot Delsenne was a freelance in the Belgian aviation since July 1920 and this was his last official flight as he should join the Armée de l'Air in Châteauroux on 01SEP1921. On his side, Raymond Rijckers was a young mechanic aged 21 and should obtain his pilot licence in a short time.
Probable cause:
A loss of control following an in-flight fire.

Crash of a Salmson 2.A2 in Toulouse: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Salmson 2.A2
Operator:
Registration:
F-ALBI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Toulouse - Barcelona
MSN:
22
YOM:
1921
Location:
Toulouse-Montaudran
Haute-Garonne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a mail flight to Barcelona. Shortly after takeoff from Toulouse-Montaudran Airport, while climbing, the engine failed. The aircraft lost height and crashed, killing both crew members.
Crew:
Roger Portal, pilot
François Gaye, mechanic.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on takeoff.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4K in San Francisco: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
222
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
San Francisco – Sacramento
Location:
Marina Field (San Francisco)
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Marina Field in San Francisco, while climbing to a height of about 500 feet, the aircraft was caught in an air pocket. The pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed. The pilot was killed.

Crash of a Blériot Spad 27 near Dieppe

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Blériot Spad 27
Operator:
Registration:
F-CMAV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris - Croydon
MSN:
1252
YOM:
1920
Location:
Dieppe
Seine-Maritime
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was completing a mail flight from Paris-Le Bourget to Croydon. While flying in the region of Dieppe, he encountered low visibility due to foggy conditions. At a too low altitude, the airplane impacted trees with one of its wings, stalled and crashed in the Arques forest. While the pilot was seriously injured, the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Breguet 14.A2 in El Campello

Date & Time: May 8, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Breguet 14
Operator:
Registration:
F-ALHE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Barcelone – Alicante
MSN:
103
YOM:
1920
Location:
Alicante
Valencian Community
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching Alicante, the pilot encountered stormy weather. He lost control of the airplane that crashed near El Campello, about 10 km northeast of Alicante. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot Marcel Stichter was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Rock Springs: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
176
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Rock Springs
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Rock Springs, while climbing to a height of about 150 feet, the pilot apparently attempted to return when, doing a sharp turn, he lost control of the airplane that crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B in Cleveland: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
196
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Chicago – Cleveland
Location:
Cleveland
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On approach to Cleveland, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. The aircraft impacted a bridge over the Cuyahoga River and crashed on a railway road. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4B at Mitchel AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.4
Operator:
Registration:
160
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mitchel Field - Cleveland
Location:
Mitchel AFB (Long Island)
New York
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Mitchel Field, the pilot made a sharp turn to the left, causing the left wing to struck the ground. The aircraft went out of control and crashed, bursting into flames. The pilot was seriously injured and died 8 days later.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9 in Paris

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1921
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.9
Operator:
Registration:
O-BATE
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brussels - Paris
YOM:
1921
Location:
Paris-Le Bourget
Seine-Saint-Denis
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on final approach to Paris-Le Bourget Airport following an uneventful flight from Brussels. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was injured. The aircraft was officially registered on the Belgium CAA the day prior to the accident.
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