Skydiving / Paratroopers

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Schedule:

Zephyrhills - Zephyrhills

MSN:

2007

YOM:

1967

Location:

Zephyrhills

Florida

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2455

Captain / Total hours on type:

16.00

Circumstances:

Following a local skydiving mission, the single engine aircraft was returning to Zephyrhills Airfield when it bounced on landing, went out of control and crash landed. All three occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Improper level off on part of the pilot who failed to recover from bounced landing. On landing, the aircraft trim was set full nose up.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Halfpenny Green

Date & Time: May 7, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Skydivers Flying Club

Registration:

G-AJKW

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

Schedule:

Halfpenny Green - Halfpenny Green

MSN:

6539

YOM:

1947

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following a successfully skydiving mission in the region of Halfpenny Green Airport, the crew was returning to his base when the airplane crashed on landing for unknown reason. All three occupants survived while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon I in Auckland

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1967

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Auckland Flying School

Registration:

ZK-AXI

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Auckland - Auckland

MSN:

2057

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Auckland-Ardmore Airport, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The pilot elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane stalled and crashed in a grassy area. All eight occupants were injured and the airplane was written off. They were involved in a local skydiving mission.

Probable cause:

The left engine stopped following the failure of a fuel line.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 near Peremyshl': 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1942

Type of aircraft:

GVF PS-84

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3977

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

184 19 04

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in an open field located 3-8 km from Peremyshl', bursting into flames. All four crew members were injured and three paratroopers were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Judino

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1942

Type of aircraft:

GVF PS-84

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3979

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

184 19 06

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Engaged in a paratroopers mission, the airplane passed the enemy lines when it was shot down by the German Flak. It crash landed in a field near the village of Judino and was damaged beyond repair. All 27 occupants escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 in Lugi: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1942

Type of aircraft:

GVF PS-84

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L3967

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was carrying paratroopers to the enemy lines. While approaching the drop zone in Lugi, it was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field. Four crew members and 16 paratroopers were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I near Tawīlat al Ghazālah: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1941 at 0200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 130 Bombay

Operator:

Registration:

L5847

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Nuqat al Khams (النقاط الخمس)

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Heliopolis - Heliopolis

MSN:

SH.40

YOM:

1939

Location:

Tawīlat al Ghazālah

Country:

Libya

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Heliopolis to drop paratroopers over Tmimi. While flying between Tmimi and Gazala, it was shot down by enemy fire, entered a dive and crashed near Tawīlat al Ghazālah. Seven crew members became PoW while Sgt Pott was killed. About two weeks later, P/O Martin and AC1 Humphries died from injuries sustained.
Crew (216th Squadron):
Sgt John Henry Pott, †
P/O Donald Sunman Martin, pilot, †
AC1 William Humphries, †
W/O R. P. Head,
LAC R. W. Gowing,
F/S Charlie E. West +2.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Final Report:

Crash of a Tupolev ANT-9 in Vaziani: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Tupolev ANT-9 (PS-9)

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L157

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Vaziani - Vaziani

MSN:

158

YOM:

1933

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

5138

Circumstances:

At 0800LT, the crew departed Tbilisi Airport on a short flight to the nearest airport of Vaziani where seven skydivers were picked up for a local exercise. During the takeoff roll at Vaziani Airport, the airplane veered to the left and the pilot aborted. A second attempt to takeoff was also abandoned few minutes later for the same reasons. As the crew thought that the mudguard was rubbing the left wheel, they proceeded with a slight modification of the position of the mudguard. On the third attempt to takeoff, the airplane lifted off then climbed to a height of 2-3 metres when it turned 90° to the left, causing the left wheel to touch the ground. The airplane rolled on a distance of 88 metres then the right wheel struck the ground as well. The airplane continued on a distance of nine metres then crashed. The airplane was totally destroyed and two paratroopers were killed. The other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the loss of control after takeoff was the consequence of the failure of the right rudder control cable.
The following contributing factors were identified:
- The person in charge of the maintenance of the airplane was asked on October 20 to proceed with the change of both rudder control cables. The mechanic failed to comply with this order, did not proceed with any change and reported to his superiors that he changed the cables, which was not the case,
- The superior failed to check the work from his mechanic prior to release the airplane,
- The crew failed to inspect the airplane prior to takeoff and did not comply with published procedures,
- The pilot continued the takeoff procedure with an apparently defective airplane and failed to reduce the engine power when the airplane turned left after liftoff.

Crash of a Beriev MP-1bis in Russia

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Beriev MP-1

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L2551

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors: