Imperial Airways

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Croydon – Paris – Basel – Zurich

MSN:

W.10/4

YOM:

1925

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While overflying the Channel at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the right engine failed. The pilot attempted to return to England but some three miles off Dungeness, as he was unable to maintain a safe altitude, he ditched the aircraft. Both crew and four passengers escaped and were slightly injured while all seven other occupants were killed. The aircraft was named 'City of Ottawa'.
Crew:
Rudolf Paul David Brailli, pilot,
Nigel Robert Barnett, flight engineer.

Probable cause:

The right engine stopped following the failure of the fourth connecting rod due to fatigue.

Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.50A in Plymouth

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1928

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.50

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBKZ

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Schedule:

Plymouth – Croydon

MSN:

133

YOM:

1925

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Shortly after takeoff from Plymouth, the single engine airplane crashed for unknown reason. All five occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 74 Vulcan in Purley: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1928

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Vulcan

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBLB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Croydon - Croydon

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YOM:

1925

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Circumstances:

As the engine has been changed the day prior to the accident, the pilot was engaged in a test flight with an inspector of the Civil Aviation Authority. Due to the nature of the flight, four employees of Imperial Airways were authorized to take part of the flight. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the aircraft crashed into a market garden near Leigh Cottage on Woodcote Road, it was seen by residents flying low over the rooftops with the engine "evidently in difficulties". The accident occurred in a potato field located 3 miles south of the airport, in Purley. As the pilot was ejected on impact and was uninjured, he helped one of the passengers from the enclosed cabin free. Shortly later, the aircraft burst into flames and it was not possible to rescue the other passengers. The four passengers (two male and two females) were killed and later evidence was that at least one had died due to the impact and the others were unconscious before the fire.

Probable cause:

The pilot Captain John Spafford gave his evidence to the inquest, he had been informed at 11:50 that the aircraft needed an engine test and he was to also take five passengers and some ballast. Spafford calculated that his weight would be under the full load and that on the ground the engine sounded normal. "When I was about 700 feet I pushed the nose down to maintain height and noticed that the aircraft began to sink rapidly. I increased the throttle to little effect and then started to look for a safe landing place, but the area was full of high trees and houses. I increased the throttle and was able to hold height for a few minutes and then noticed the engine water temperature was over 100 degrees centigrade and I could see steam from the left hand engine cowling. The engine lost power again and I saw a chance to land in some allotments, I pushed the control down to 45 degrees and hit the ground at the same angle. I was trapped by my foot and released myself after about two minutes, as I freed myself the engine caught fire. I managed to get to the door of the cabin and only one of the passengers was conscious." Spafford agreed with the coroner that the presence of passengers were not required for an engine test. After further questioning of the pilot the jury returned a verdict of accidental death in all four case. The coroner added that the practice of allowing employees of the airline to go as passengers on test flight should stop. The engineering superintendent from Imperial Airways said that the airline would discontinue the practice.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.26 in Abbeville

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1928

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.26

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBBG

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Croydon – Paris

MSN:

W8/2

YOM:

1922

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En route from Croydon to Paris, while approaching Abbeville, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted a precautionary landing. Unfortunately, the manoeuvre was eventful and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. All occupants evacuated safely.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.30 in The Channel

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1926 at 1315 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.30

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBMS

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Croydon – Paris

MSN:

W.10/3

YOM:

1925

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Named 'Prince Henry', the aircraft departed Croydon Airport at 1245LT on a regular schedule service to Paris-Le Bourget. While overflying The Channel, the right engine lost power. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing in the sea some 33 km off the British coast. In a slight nose-up attitude, the aircraft ditched into sea at 1315LT. All 12 occupants took refuge on the roof and the tail and were later rescued by the crew of two fishing vessels, one of them named 'Invicta'. Mail and cargo (platinum) were salvaged and bring back to Folkestone. The only casualty was a Pommeranian dog belonging to one of the women passengers.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.34B in Carrville

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1925

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.34

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBBY

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Croydon - Newcastle

MSN:

YOM:

1922

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The aircraft was performing a special flight from Croydon to Newcastle to follow the 'King's Cup Air Race'. En route, while cruising over Durham County, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to fog. As the pilot was unable to localize the destination, he decided to attempt an emergency landing in an open field when the aircraft impacted a ditch and came to rest against trees. While all seven occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.34B in Croydon: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 24, 1924 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.34

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBBX

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Croydon - Paris

MSN:

YOM:

1922

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, while climbing to a height of 300 feet, the aircraft suffered a technical problem, stalled and crashed in an open field located in Purley, some 2,4 km south of the airport, bursting into flames. SAR arrived quickly on the scene but it was impossible to rescue the eight occupants who were prisoner of the fire. The pilot and five passengers were British citizens, another was Brazilian and the last was a Chilean.

Probable cause:

The report into the inquiry was published on 10FEB1925. The inquiry concluded that the aircraft was airworthy at the time of departure. There was no blockage in the petrol pipe, such damage being as a result of the firefighting operations subsequent to the crash. The use of unarmored pipe had been allowed by Air Ministry officials who were unaware of an instruction issued on 6 December 1923 that armored piping was to be used. Such usage of non-armored piping had no relevance to the accident. The then-current conditions existing at Croydon Airport meant that pilots were unable to comply with certain parts of the Air Navigation (Consolidation) Order, 1923 and that the condition of the airfield was at least a contributory factor in the accident. It also found that clarification of the meaning of the word "flight" in parts of the order was needed. No negligence was found on the part of the Air Ministry or Imperial Airways. The pilot was cleared of blame for the accident. The aircraft was found to have crashed due to an unknown mechanical defect and subsequent stall whilst an emergency landing was being attempted. In conclusion, it was determined that G-EBBX had experienced some type of mechanical malfunction prior to the accident, but the nature of the problem could not be determined. The fact that Croydon had been listed as an ‘unsatisfactory’ airport, because of its wind conditions, could have been a contributing factor, according to the investigative report.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.34 in Croydon

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1924

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.34

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBCX

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