Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 in RAF Swinderby: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF332
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Swinderby - Swinderby
MSN:
524
YOM:
1951
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night training sortie, consisting of landings and approaches maneuvers. While descending to the airport, the twin engine airplane went out of control and crashed in a wooded area located three miles southwest of the airfield. Both crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew misjudged the distance with the ground and failed to check the approach speed and the angle of descent. However, the assumption that the loss of control was the consequence of an avoiding action on part of the pilot-in-command to avoid a collision with another aircraft in the downwind circuit is not ruled out.

Crash of a Vickers Valetta T.3 in RAF Lichfield

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WG265
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lichfield - Lichfield
MSN:
513
YOM:
10
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Lichfield. After completing several maneuvers successfully, the crew started the approach with the right engine inoperative. On final, the aircraft banked right, causing the right wing to hit the ground. Out of control, the airplane stalled and crashed in a field located short of runway threshold. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Vickers Varsity T.1 in RAF Swinderby

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF420
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
700
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach to RAF Swinderby was completed in misty conditions. The airplane was too high and passed over the outer marker at an altitude of 750 feet instead of the assigned 600 feet. The pilot increased the rate of descent but could not timely arrest the descent. He advanced the power levers in an attempt to make a go around when the airplane impacted the ground short of the runway threshold. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot-in-command.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster GR.3 off Agrigento: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1953 at 0448 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TX270
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 1,500 feet in low visibility due to the night and rain falls, the aircraft collided with a RAF Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 registered VX562. En route from Luqa to Northolt, the Valetta was carrying 16 passengers and a crew of three. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Mediterranean sea about 46 km southwest of Agrigento. All 26 occupants in both aircraft were killed. The Lancaster crew was following HMS Gambia and other Royal Navy ships on an antisubmarine exercise.
Probable cause:
The court of inquiry decided that the weather conditions at the time were a factor with localized thunderstorms, heavy rain and hail and no blame could be attached to any individual. Evidence did reveal that though the Malta Flight Information Centre were not in possession of full information on the Lancaster's sortie, it was not a contributory cause.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 off Agrigento: 19 killed

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1953 at 0448 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VX562
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luqa – Northolt
YOM:
1950
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 1,500 feet in low visibility due to the night and rain falls, the aircraft collided with a RAF Avro 683 Lancaster GR.3 registered TX270. En route from Luqa to Northolt, the Valetta was carrying 16 passengers and a crew of three. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Mediterranean sea about 46 km southwest of Agrigento. All 26 occupants in both aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
The court of inquiry decided that the weather conditions at the time were a factor with localized thunderstorms, heavy rain and hail and no blame could be attached to any individual. Evidence did reveal that though the Malta Flight Information Centre were not in possession of full information on the Lancaster's sortie, it was not a contributory cause.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson T.21 near RAF Syerston

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WB455
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the crew lost radio aids and attempted to make an emergency landing when the twin engine aircraft crashed in a field located near the RAF Syerston. Both occupants were unhurt while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of radio aids.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings C.1 in Shallufa AFB: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1953
Operator:
Registration:
TG602
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Shallufa - Shallufa
MSN:
80
YOM:
1949
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Shallufa Airbase, while climbing to a height of 2,000 feet, the four engine aircraft went into a dive and crashed in a desert area located 5,6 km southwest of the airfield. The airplane was destroyed and all nine crew members who were performing a local training mission were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that during initial climb, due to vibrations, the right elevator detached, followed shortly later by the left elevator and the rudder or tail assembly. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed. Investigation revealed that a certain modification which included the installation of increased diameter bolts in the tail section had not been carried out on TG602 for unknown reason.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-50-BN Washington B.1 in Llanarmon-yn-Iâl: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF502
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie from RAF Marham. While cruising by night at an altitude of 19,000 feet, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that went into a dive. While plunging into the earth at a height of 850 feet, the aircraft disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in an open field located near Llanarmon-yn-Iâl. The debris were found on an area more than five miles and all ten occupants have been killed. The crew was unable to send any sort of mayday message.
Crew:
S/L W. R. Sloane,
P/O C. B. Speller,
P/O M. J. Lightowlers,
Sgt E. F. Wheeler,
Sgt K. A. Reakes,
Sgt R. F. S. Anderson,
Sgt E. D. Pearton,
Sgt A. J. Martin,
Sgt M. J. Clifton,
Sgt R. G. Hughson.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-60-BN Washington B.1 in Horncastle: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF553
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Coningsby - Coningsby
MSN:
11508
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission out of RAF Coningsby on behalf of the 15th Squadron. On final approach, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the pilot-in-command decided to abandon the approach and made a go around. A second attempt to land was later abandoned as well. During a third attempt to land, the aircraft was too low and crashed in a field located in Horncastle, about 6 miles north of the airbase. Five crew members were killed while two others were injured. Five crew members were unhurt. The aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson T.21 in RAF Cranfield

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VV883
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Halfpenny Green - Cranfield
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet on a flight from Halfpenny Green to RAF Cranfield, the crew encountered technical problems with the left engine that was shot down. The crew decided to perform an emergency descent and while flying through clouds, he encountered icing conditions. After the airplane crossed the cloud base, while at an altitude of 200 feet about 3 miles from the airfield, the pilot-in-command was unable to maintain a safe control due to icing. With one engine inoperative, he attempted an emergency landing in a field. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine in flight and icing conditions.