Test

Site:

SNCAC - Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Centre

Schedule:

Melun - Melun

MSN:

0281

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

Crashed shortly after takeoff from Melun-Villaroche Airport while on a test flight. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a SNCAC NC.211 Cormoran in Vélizy-Villacoublay: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1948

Type of aircraft:

SNCAC NC.211 Cormoran

Operator:

Registration:

F-WFKH

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Toussus-le-Noble – Vélizy-Villacoublay

MSN:

YOM:

1948

Location:

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Captain / Total flying hours:

4000

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a test flight on this first prototype and was completing a short flight from Toussus-le-Noble to his main base in Vélizy-Villacoublay. On final approach, at an altitude of 250 meters, the four engine aircraft nosed down and crashed in a huge explosion in the wood of Verrières located less than two km from the runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Louis Bertrand, pilot,
Abel Nicolle, flight engineer,
Robert Facomprez, radio operator,
Maurice Itasse, mechanic,
Marcel Constum, mechanic.

Probable cause:

The hypothesis of a false maneuver made by a highly skilled crew was excluded, as well as any act of sabotage or inadvertent movement of the 1,5 ton of ballast present in the cargo compartment. In all likelihood, the loss of control was caused by an excessive deployment of flaps. During the final approach, the crew selected flaps down activating the electric flaps control systems. For unknown reason, the flaps deployed to an excessive angle of 40°, causing the plane to stall and to crash.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 in Wylye: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Avro 694 Lincoln

Operator:

Registration:

RF560

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Boscombe-Down - Defford

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a test flight from RAF Boscombe Down to RAF Defford on behalf of the A & AEE. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 3,500 feet with the propeller of the engine number one feathered and the number two running at low speed, the aircraft stalled, went into a dive and crashed in a field located in Wylye, about 10 miles west of RAF Boscombe Down. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L A. Toot,
F/Lt A. G. Bradfield,
F/O G. W. Williams,
P. W. Howes.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero in Segni: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1948 at 1030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

MM21311

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Site:

Schedule:

Guidonia - Guidonia

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Circumstances:

While on a test flight, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Segni, about 40 km southeast of Guidonia airbase. Two crew members were injured while the pilot Antonio Biscardi was killed.

Crash of a Miles M.60 Marathon I near RAF Boscombe Down: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1948 at 1329 LT

Type of aircraft:

Miles M.60 Marathon

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGPD

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Landing (descent or approach)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down

MSN:

6265

YOM:

1946

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Aircraft flight hours:

121

Circumstances:

The crew was involved in a test flight at RAF Boscombe Down, with some propeller blade control. While cruising at low height, the crew informed ground he was encountering difficulties and lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located eight miles northeast of the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control caused by a structural failure.

Crash of a Vickers 615 Viking 1B in Junín

Date & Time: May 14, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Viking

Operator:

Registration:

LV-AFL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII

Schedule:

Mendoza – Buenos Aires

MSN:

192

YOM:

1947

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a test flight from Mendoza to Buenos Aires-Aeroparque-Jorge Newbury Airport. Enroute, the pilot encountered engine problems and decided to divert to Junín Airport. On approach, the twin engine aircraft crashed in a field, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine problems.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Radlett

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PP285

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

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Site:

Schedule:

Radlett - Radlett

MSN:

1358

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Circumstances:

The crew consisting of pilots and engineers from the manufacturer Handley Page Aircraft was completing a test flight in Radlett. Upon landing, an undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest. All four occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Undercarriage collapsed on landing.

Crash of a Northrop N-23 Pioneer in California: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1948

Type of aircraft:

Northrop N-23 Pioneer

Operator:

Registration:

NX8500H

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2501

Location:

California

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The three engine aircraft was operated by the manufacturer Northrop in a number of various unimproved and short fields in Southern California (exact place unknown). The crew, consisting of one engineer and two pilots, was performing a test of an experimental dorsal fin. While flying in the vicinity of an airfield, the fin broke loose and damaged the Pioneer’s tail surfaces, making the aircraft uncontrollable. The test pilot Latham A. “Slim” Perrett did what he could to steady the aircraft to allow the copilot and an engineer to parachute to safety. Sadly, there was no time for Perrett to escape. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Source:
http://oldmachinepress.com/2014/05/17/northrop-n-23-pioneer-and-n-32-yc-125-raider/

Probable cause:

A fin broke in flight and damaged the tail, causing the aircraft to be uncontrollable.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DO Skymaster in Ponte Galeria

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1948 at 1340 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

LV-AFG

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: