Training | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Chief Motor Machinist Mate Dana W. Heckart was undergoing flight training at Pensacola and was the co-pilot of PBY-5 04447 during an anti-submarine patrol training flight. The pilot, LT (jg) John W. Nichols, USN, attempted to make a "power stall" water landing during a rain storm. The PBY "hit swells" that "bounced" the aircraft. On the third bounce, the nose of the aircraft buried in the water, causing the aircraft to nose over. The cockpit section separated from the rest of the aircraft and sank, taking Chief Heckart to the bottom. He did not survive. Nichols and the other six members of the crew, although injured, survived the crash.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III into the Lough Erne: 2 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

DD857

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Enniskillen - Enniskillen

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Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Louigh Erne off Enniskillen. Nine crew members were rescued while P/O James Leslie Hodgens and Sgt Thomas Galbraith were killed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in RAF Dumfries

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

K8776

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Dumfries - Dumfries

Location:

Dumfries AFB

Dumfries and Galloway

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

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Circumstances:

During the take-off roll, a tyre burst. An undercarriage collapse and the aircraft skidded on runway before coming to rest. All five crewmen were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Tyre burst during take off.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura II in Summerville: 4 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Operator:

Registration:

AE186

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Pennfield Ridge - Pennfield Ridge

MSN:

4324

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The crew left Pennfield Ridge AFB, New Brunswick, at 1237LT for a training mission. While cruising at low altitude, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances near Summerville, Nova Scotia. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O G. W. Cowie, pilot,
P/O C. A. Griffiths, navigator 2.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina in Jacksonville: 13 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

08422

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Jacksonville-Towers Field - Jacksonville-Towers Field

Location:

Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS

Florida

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

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Crash in unknown circumstances into the Saint Johns River, some 5 miles south of the Jacksonville-Towers Field NAS. All 13 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-10-DL Flying Fortress near Moses Lake: 8 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

42-2993

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Walla Walla - Walla Walla

Location:

Moses Lake

Washington

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

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Crashed in unknown circumstances 30 miles southwest of Moses Lake, killing all eight crew members.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Northwich: 5 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

K8791

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Cranage - Cranage

Location:

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En route, control was lost following an engine failure. The aircraft went into a spin and during the descent, one of the wing failed. The aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed, killing all five crewmen.
Crew:
Sgt Lambert G. Williams, pilot,
Sgt William P. Morrison, wireless operator,
AC2 Patrick Clarke,
ATC Albert E. Dawson,
AC2 Edward E. Suckling.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Hughes: 7 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

A16-186

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Hughes - Hughes

MSN:

414-6342

YOM:

1941

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Captain / Total flying hours:

2104

Circumstances:

The aircraft was at 500 feet with gear extended over the threshold of strip with the port airscrew feathered due to engine problems. The pilot raised the undercarriage and applied power to starboard engine, but the aircraft pulled to port and begun to loose height and crashed one mile north east of Hughes Strip. The aircraft was destroyed in the impact and ensuing fire.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Lt J. F. Mason,
F/Lt J. R. Wood,
F/O T. W. Swann,
F/Sgt R. J. Flaherty,
F/Sgt R. D. Woods,
Sgt G. R. Rowland,
F/O G. L. Knauer.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Chatsworth Park

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 416 Wellington IC

Operator:

Registration:

DV678

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cottesmore - Cottesmore

Location:

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Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 6,700 feet, both engines misfired and the left engine failed shortly later. The captain decided to attempt an emergency landing in a pasture at Chatsworth Park, near Bakewell. While all six occupants were slightly injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair due to severe damages to the airframe.
Crew (14th OTU):
F/O Leo Braham Patkin, pilot,
P/O Robert Lindsay Bienvenu, navigator,
P/O John Leslie Tolmie, air bomber,
P/O William Neil Fisher,
Sgt William Donald Blackwell, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt James Balmer, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Qualicum Beach: 3 killed

Date & Time:

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

6974

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Qualicum Beach - Qualicum Beach

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a training mission at Qualicum Beach when on final approach, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in flames onto a house. All three crew members were killed while there were no casualties on the ground.