Crash of an Avro 19 in Liverpool

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Avro 19
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGUE
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Liverpool - Liverpool
MSN:
1276
YOM:
1945
Location:
Liverpool-John Lennon (ex Speke)
Merseyside
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew, consisting of one pilot and one engineer, were engaged in a post maintenance control flight. Shortly after takeoff from Speke Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3A-367 in Hollywood: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1946 at 0157 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
NC33621
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Hollywood - Hollywood
MSN:
3286
YOM:
1941
Location:
Hollywood
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
2802
Captain / Total hours on type:
2442.00
Copilot / Total flying hours:
3300
Copilot / Total hours on type:
1315
Aircraft flight hours:
13354
Circumstances:
The crew was conducting a test flight after the left engine has been replaced. Few minutes after takeoff, a failure occurred on the 8th cylinder in the left engine and the crew shut off this engine and returned to Hollywood-Lockheed Air Terminal Airport. Due to low visibility caused by foggy conditions, the crew was unable to locate the runway and decided to go around. During the second attempt to land, the captain decided to reduce his altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft hit an eucalyptus and crashed near Lorne Street, North Hollywood. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the action of the pilot in descending to an excessively low altitude in an attempt to remain contact after encountering ground fog during an approach for an emergency landing. A contributing factor was failure of the left engine due to excessive oil accumulation in the No. 8 cylinder prior to starting the engine. A further contributing factor was the failure of maintenance personnel to take proper precaution for drainage of oil accumulation prior to starting the engine.
Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 491 Viking 1A in Effingham

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1946 at 1715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers Viking
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGOK
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wisley - Wisley
MSN:
1/101
YOM:
1945
Location:
Effingham
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left Wisley Airfield at 1705LT on a local test flight on this first prototype, in accordance to the certification program. Five minutes after takeoff, while cruising at an altitude of 1,000 feet, the crew willingly shut down the right engine. Four minutes later, the left engine encountered technical problems and failed. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing and the airplane crash landed in a field located in Effingham, about 2 miles southeast of the Wisley Airfield. While all four crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. This was the first mishap involving a Vickers Viking.
Probable cause:
The cause of the left engine failure was certainly due to the cutting off of the fuel supply.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK Dakota IV on Lantau Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN366
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hong Kong - Hong Kong
MSN:
15987/32735
YOM:
1945
Location:
Lantau Island
Hong Kong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a test flight with a crew of three on board and one officer of the Hong Kong Police. While returning to Kai Tak Airport in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft was passing over the Lantau Island at an altitude of 2,900 feet when it hit the slope of a shrouded mountain. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew started the descent prematurely, causing the aircraft to be at an insufficient altitude to clear the mountains located on Lantau Island. Poor visibility due to clouds was then considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a North American CB-25J Mitchell off Malibu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1946
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
44-30047
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Los Angeles - Los Angeles
MSN:
136-34372
Location:
Madera
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Following several modifications, the aircraft was completing a test flight for a CAA certification and was carrying a NAA research engineer, one pilot and a CAA inspector. After its departure from Los Angeles-Mine Field, the twin engine aircraft flew to the northwest when an engine caught fire in flight. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the sea and crashed few miles off Malibu. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Joseph E. Barton, pilot,
Albon C. Cowles Jr., research engineer.
Passenger:
Mr. McCutcheon, CAA inspector.
Source: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b25_20.html
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III Leamington Spa: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1946 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
PB373
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a test flight when the aircraft exploded in the air, disintegrated and eventually crashed in a field. All six occupants were killed.
Crew (115th Squadron):
F/Lt John Douglas Cantrell, pilot,
F/Sgt Donald Frederick Payne, flight engineer,
F/Lt Frederick Reginald Berry, air bomber,
F/Sgt Maurice John Newman, navigator,
F/Sgt Dennis William Crutchley, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt Ronald Stedman, air gunner.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. It is possible that the aircraft caught fire in flight. Several elements from elevators and wings were sheared off while the aircraft was diving into the ground.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK near Swartkop AFB

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
6845
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Swartkop - Swartkop
MSN:
26114/14669
YOM:
1944
Location:
Swartkop AFB (Pretoria)
Gauteng
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
1843
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Swartkop AFB, in the suburb of Pretoria, the crew noticed fuel streaming from the port fuel tank. The aircraft caught fire, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing in an open field. The aircraft came to rest in flames and while all four crew members escaped uninjured, the aircraft was partially destroyed by fire (center section, port engine, port fuselage and port elevator).
Crew:
Cpt W. L. Chiazzari,
Cpl F. O. Burger,
Cpl J. L. du Toit,
Cpl P. Harrall.
Source: http://www.dc-3.co.za
Probable cause:
The camouflage paint on the wings of the Dakota did not easily reveal the position of the fuel filler caps and the fact that the port filler cap was not locked tightly in place was not noticed during the preflight. After takeoff from Swartkop Airbase, the hot exhaust gases ignited the fumes and the airplane caught fire in flight, requiring an emergency landing.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.68 Hermes I in Radlett: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.81 Hermes
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGSS
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Radlett - Radlett
MSN:
68/1
YOM:
1945
Location:
Radlett
Hertfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
First prototype of the Hermes, this model H.P.68 (s/n 68/1) was later renamed H.P.81. Both crew members left Radlett Airfield to complete the first test flight on this new airplane. Few minutes after takeoff, while cruising in the vicinity of the aerodrome, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located 5 km from the airport. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Investigators considered that the accident was the direct result of elevator overbalance, this brought about flight conditions the nature of which caused the pilot to lose control. Although the porpoising motions set up by the overbalanced elevators would have been expected, the final manoeuvre of the aircraft, in climbing suddenly, cannot be satisfactorily explained. It seems certain, however, that at different trimmer settings, a reversal of stick forces would have occurred with which the pilot could not have kept in phase as the loads increased.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Yörük Köyü: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Eskisehir Tayyare Fabrikasi
Registration:
5
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Eskisehir - Eskisehir
Location:
Yörük Köyü
Black Sea Region (Karadeniz Bölgesi)
Country:
Turkey
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a test flight from Eskisehir on behalf of the Eskisehir Aircraft Factory. En route, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Yörük Köyü, in the region of Düzce. All five occupants were killed.
Source:
http://www.tayyareci.com/hvsehitleri/cilt1-1914-47/1945-1947/288.htm
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