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Ground accident of a Short L.17 Scylla in Brussels

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1935
Type of aircraft:
Short L.17 Scylla
Operator:
Registration:
G-ACJK
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brussels – Croydon
MSN:
02
YOM:
1934
Location:
Brussels
Flemish Brabant
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing for takeoff at Brussels Airport, the four engine aircraft was blown up by gusty winds and came to rest upside down. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Avro 618 Ten in Ruiselede: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1933 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 618 Ten
Operator:
Registration:
G-ABLU
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cologne - Brussels - Croydon
MSN:
528
YOM:
1931
Location:
Ruiselede
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was completing an international schedule service from Cologne to Croydon with an intermediate stop in Brussels. The aircraft departed Brussels-Haren Airport at 1220LT with eight passengers and two crew members on board. While overflying the West Flanders, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Apparently lost, the crew deviated from the prescribed flight path by 15 km when the captain decided to reduce his altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground. At a height of about 250 feet, the airplane collided with a 270 metres high radio antenna. Upon impact, the right wing was torn off and the airplane crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants were killed, among them seven British, two Dutch and one Polish.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.154 Argosy II in Diksmuide: 15 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1933 at 1425 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.154 Argosy
Operator:
Registration:
G-AACI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cologne – Bruxelles – Croydon
MSN:
AW.363
YOM:
1928
Location:
Diksmuide
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Captain / Total flying hours:
4000
Circumstances:
Named 'City of Liverpool', the aircraft departed Brussels-Haren Airport at 1336LT, about 30 minutes beyond schedule. It passed over Gent at 1400LT and was approaching Roeselare. While cruising at an altitude of 4,300 feet and at a speed of 95 knots, the radio navigator informed ATC that all was OK on board. Few minutes later, an intense fire broke out in the cabin. Immediately, the pilot reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. But from a height of some 200 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a flat attitude in an open field, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post crash fire and all 15 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Investigations revealed that no technical failure occurred on wings or engines. A quick and violent fire broke out in the cabin, maybe in a luggage or in the toilet compartment for reasons that could not be determined. The fire was very intensive as no one in the cabin was able to use the fire extinguisher. Investigators thought about a criminal act but Imperial Airways declared few months later that the responsibility of any of the passenger could not be proven.

Crash of an Armstrong AW.154 Whitworth Argosy IA in Aswan

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.154 Argosy
Operator:
Registration:
G-EBLO
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Aswan - Cairo
MSN:
AW.155
YOM:
1925
Location:
Aswan
Aswan
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Aswan Airport, the airplane stalled and crashed. All seven occupants were injured, among them two crew seriously. The aircraft named 'City of Birmingham' was damaged beyond repair. It was en route to Cairo while on a flight from Johannesburg to London.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.154 Argosy in Croydon

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.154 Argosy
Operator:
Registration:
G-AACH
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Croydon - Croydon
MSN:
AW.362
YOM:
1928
Location:
Croydon
Surrey
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 was engaged in a local training flight out from Croydon Airport. Shortly after liftoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. Both crew were injured and the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by the failure of the right engine (n°3).

Crash of a De Havilland DH.66 Hercules in Kupang

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1931
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.66 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
G-EBMW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
London – Batavia – Kupang – Sydney
MSN:
236
YOM:
1925
Location:
Kupang
East Nusa Tenggara
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Kupang, all three engine stopped. The crew attempted an emergency landing in a prairie located 16 km from the airport. After touchdown, the aircraft impacted rocks, lost its main landing gear and came to rest. Both crew members escaped uninjured and the aircraft named 'City of Cairo' was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.26 in Neufchâtel-Hardelot: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1930 at 1230 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.26
Operator:
Registration:
G-EBIX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Croydon – Paris
MSN:
W8/7
YOM:
1924
Location:
Neufchâtel-Hardelot
Pas-de-Calais
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Croydon to Paris, the crew encountered technical problems and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft eventually came to rest in an open field located in Neufchâtel-Hardelot, some 10 km south of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Pas-de-Calais. Three occupants, including a crew member, were killed, while three others were seriously injured. Pilot was J. J. Flynn.
Probable cause:
Forced landing following an unknown technical failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.66 Hercules in Cairo

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.66 Hercules
Operator:
Registration:
G-EBNA
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
London - Cairo
MSN:
240
YOM:
1925
Location:
Cairo
Cairo
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed London on an international service to India, carrying four passengers and three crew members. On approach to Cairo Airport by night, the visibility was poor and the pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was insufficient. The airplane impacted ground and crashed near the city of Giza, in the suburb of Cairo. All seven occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft named 'City of Tehran' was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth in Broken Hill

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1930
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.61 Giant Moth
Operator:
Registration:
G-AAEV
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
335
YOM:
1929
Location:
Broken Hill
Central
Country:
Zambia
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from Broken Hill, on a flight from Croydon to South Africa, the aircraft crashed for unknown reason. All seven occupants were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Short S.8 Calcutta off La Spezia: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1929 at 1800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.8 Calcutta
Operator:
Registration:
G-AADN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Naples – Genoa
MSN:
S748
YOM:
1928
Location:
La Spezia
Liguria
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Named 'City of Rome', the seaplane was performing an flight from Naples to Genoa, carrying five passengers and two crew members. While cruising along the Italian coast in poor weather conditions, the crew encountered unknown technical problems and elected to ditch the airplane in the sea, some 15 km off La Spezia. Upon landing, the airplane hit high waves and overturned, killing all seven occupants. While being towed by authorities, the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical problems forced the crew to ditch the airplane.
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