Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford T.2 in RAF Dalcross: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HM745
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dalcross - Dalcross
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a local training sortie at RAF Dalcross, performing touch and goes. On final, while making a last steep turn to join the approach path, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. The pilot was killed and the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
P/O George Nicolson.
Probable cause:
Poor judgement on part of the pilot who completed the last turn in a too steep angle, causing the aircraft to stall.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 in Fāyid AFB

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VW846
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Fāyid - Fāyid
MSN:
407
YOM:
9
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a local training sortie at Fāyid AFB. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the pilot informed ground about an engine failure and elected to return for a safe landing when the second engine failed as well. The pilot-in-command reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing in a desert area. On touchdown, the airplane lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. All three crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 in Luqa: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VW810
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
371
YOM:
26
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Luqa Airfield, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked slightly to the right, apparently due to jammed ailerons. The pilot-in-command decided to land back and the aircraft touched down past the runway end, in a grassy area. To avoid any collision with the controller's caravan, the crew raised the undercarriage. The airplane slid for several yards and the left wing hit the caravan and was sheared off before the airplane came to rest in flames. Two passengers were killed while 20 others were evacuated, three of them injured.

Crash of an Avro 696 Shackleton MR.2 in Belfast

Date & Time: May 14, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WL749
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
YOM:
1953
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Belfast-Aldergrove Airport, the airplane was too low and hit the ground short of runway threshold. On impact, the left main gear was sheared off and the aircraft slid for dozen yards before coming to rest against the runway controller's caravan. There were no casualties but the aircraft that was recently delivered was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta T.3 off Hartland Point: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WG258
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hullavington - Hullavington
MSN:
506
YOM:
26
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew (six student-pilots and four pilots) left RAF Hullavington for a navigation training mission over the Celtic Sea. En route, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances few miles off the Hartland Point Lighthouse. All ten crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson T.21 in Powburn

Date & Time: May 7, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VV299
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Scone - Scone
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training sortie from RAF Scone. En route, he encountered poor weather conditions and the pilot-in-command decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground. The airplane hit the ground with its left wing then a tree with its right wing, rotated and crashed in a field. All five crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The pilot-in-command decided to continue the flight below the minimum safe altitude in limited visibility.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford T.1 in Great Malvern: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BG271
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While performing a training flight with one engine voluntarily inoperative, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Crash of a Vickers Varsity T.1 in Nicosia

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WJ938
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taxiing for takeoff, the nose wheel steering system failed. The pilot informed ATC and continued to taxi using other braking systems and attempted a double bend when the brakes failed. The aircraft veered off the taxiway and collided with parked fuel tanks. There were no casualties while the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland GR.5 off Iwakuni AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PP148
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
During a night landing on rough seas off Iwakuni AFB, the seaplane went out of control and came to rest upside down. Four crew members were killed while seven others were rescued. It was determined that the visibility was low at the time the crew tried to land on rough seas with high winds.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 in Boizenburg: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1953 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RF531
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leconfield – Berlin
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route, the four engine bomber was shot down by the pilot of a Soviet AF MiG-15 and crashed in Boizenburg, killing all seven crew members. It is understood tha the aircraft had been attacked after staying off course 'whilst on a routine training mission' from RAF Leconfield to the Airport of Berlin-Gatow. However, that may have been a "cover story" for the aircrafts real mission of ELINT (Electronic Intelligence Gathering) over Soviet-occupied East Germany.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of a Soviet AF MiG-15.