Buckinghamshire | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft was being used as a tanker (it had extra fuel stored in the rear cabin) and was returning from Portsmouth to Coventry after a mid-air refueling mission of an Airspeed Courier aircraft being used by Cobham for a long distant flight to India. Shortly after takeoff from Heston Aerodrome, while climbing, the aircraft named 'Youth of New Zealand' crashed in a field, killing all four crew members (one pilot, two mechanics and one aeronautical apprentice).

Probable cause:

The Inspector of Accidents concluded that the probable cause was a fracture of a main bolt that secured the bracing wires of the front spar to the tail. The failure of the bolt would cause a loss of control, failure of the bolt was probably fatigue. The aircraft had been involved in an early accident when the tail had been swapped with one from another aircraft, but after 50 hours of flying since the repair, it was not thought that the bolt had been disturbed.

Crash of an Avro 504N at RAF Halton

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1932

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Registration:

K1816

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Halton - Halton

MSN:

K1816

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local training flight out from RAF Halton. On approach, the airplane was too low, hit a fence and crashed, coming to rest upside down. Both pilots were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60 Moth at RAF Halton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1930

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBPR

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Halton – Hanworth

MSN:

358

YOM:

1927

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from RAF Halton, while in initial climb, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth in Beaconsfield

Date & Time: May 10, 1930

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

G-AAPE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Hanworth - Hanworth

MSN:

1168

YOM:

1930

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed Hanworth for a local training mission. En route, in unknown circumstances, the single engine airplane crashed in Beaconsfield. Both crew members were injured.

Crash of an Avro 536 in Taplow

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1928

Type of aircraft:

Avro 536

Operator:

Registration:

G-EAKM

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

YOM:

1919

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The single engine airplane departed Croydon on a taxi flight, carrying two passengers and one pilot. En route, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Taplow, northeast of Maidenhead. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all three occupants were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.34 in Ivinghoe Beacon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1923 at 1805 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.34

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBBS

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Croydon - Manchester

MSN:

YOM:

1922

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

755

Circumstances:

The flight was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Croydon to Manchester. Whilst flying over Buckinghamshire, a storm was encountered. Witnesses stated that an engine stopped, but was then restarted. It appeared to them that an emergency landing was going to be made at Ford End, Ivinghoe, when the aircraft dived to the ground and crashed at Ivinghoe Beacon. The wreckage came to rest upside down, with both crew and all three passengers being killed. One witness reported hearing a violent explosion, but was not sure whether this was before the aircraft crashed or as a result of the crash. Villagers extricated the victims from the wreckage. The deceased were taken to Ivinghoe Town Hall pending an inquest by the coroner. As a result of the crash, Daimler Airway temporarily suspended their service between Croydon and Manchester, due to having no aircraft to operate it. The inquest opened on 17 September at Ivinghoe Town Hall. Evidence was given that the pilot was experienced, having flown for 755 hours, and that the aircraft was airworthy on departure from Croydon. It was carrying an adequate supply of fuel, having departed Croydon with 73 imperial gallons (330 l) of fuel against an estimated consumption of around 50 imperial gallons (230 l). The aircraft could carry eight passengers, but as only three were on board 400 pounds (180 kg) of ballast was carried, as well as a quantity of mail. Witnesses reported that the aircraft stalled before crashing.

Probable cause:

Air Ministry announced that as a result of the investigation into the circumstances of the accident to aircraft G-EBBS, the Inspector of Accidents has arrived at the following conclusions:
a) That the accident was due to an error of judgment on the part of the pilot, causing the aeroplane to lose flying speed near the ground.
b) That when the accident occurred the pilot was attempting to make a landing on account of the bad weather conditions.

Crash of an Avro 504K in Slough

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1922

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Leatherhead Aviation Services

Registration:

G-EBAV

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Hounslow Heath - Hounslow Heath

MSN:

F9783

YOM:

1922

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was performing a demo flight with two passengers on board. Few minutes after takeoff from Hounslow Heath Airport, he climbed in a wide left hand turn to a height of little over 1,000 feet, and then apparently attempted to loop the machine (reported as an Immelmann Turn). From a vertically upward position, the aeroplane fell over into a spinning nose-dive from which it failed to recover. While all three occupants were seriously injured, the aircraft was destroyed.