Date & Time:
Sep 18, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5492
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pocklington - Pocklington
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
8
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Pocklington on a local test flight. While cruising at an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent, suffered a structural failure and crashed two miles north-northeast of the airbase. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Norman Watson Thompson, pilot,
Sgt Ronald George Chandos, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Peter Turton, observer,
Sgt Charles Harold Fletcher, wireless operator,
Sgt Walter Irvine Strother, wireless operator,
Sgt James Matthew Maxon, air gunner,
Sgt Gabriel Phillips,
AC1 Harry Armitage.
Crew:
Sgt Norman Watson Thompson, pilot,
Sgt Ronald George Chandos, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Peter Turton, observer,
Sgt Charles Harold Fletcher, wireless operator,
Sgt Walter Irvine Strother, wireless operator,
Sgt James Matthew Maxon, air gunner,
Sgt Gabriel Phillips,
AC1 Harry Armitage.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the dinghy breaking loose from its stowage and fouling the elevators, which in turn sent the Wellington into a steep dive and structural failure occurred.
