Cornwall

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Schedule:

Gibraltar - Saint Eval

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft landed long. After touchdown, the pilot-in-command increased engine power and attempted to go around but eventually decided to raise the landing gear. The airplane skidded on runway, overran and came to rest in a field. All 11 occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the flying crew who neglected several published approach procedures. Responsibilities were shared with the controller at RAF St Eval Tower who failed to transmit suitable informations regarding wind direction and speed.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Saint Eval: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 619 Wellington X

Operator:

Registration:

RP355

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

On final approach to RAF Saint Eval, the aircraft nosed down and crashed few miles short of runway. Two crew members were killed while the third occupant was seriously injured.

Probable cause:

For unknown reason, the pilot in command adopted a wrong approach configuration and referred to the approach procedures of the RAF Saint Merryn. It is believed that the loss of control occurred when he realized his mistake.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster GR.3 in RAF Saint Eval

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

SW373

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax VII

Schedule:

Saint Eval - Saint Eval

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

After touchdown, the crew encountered problem to decelerate. The pilot in command decided to raise the undercarriage to stop more efficiently. The aircraft sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II off RAF Saint Eval: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

X7282

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Saint Eval - Saint Eval

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was performing a solo training sortie from RAF Saint Eval. While flying about 15 km north of the airbase, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew (224th Squadron):
F/O Thomas William Goodschild.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax VII in Bolventor: 21 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1945 at 0855 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PN305

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was on its way from RAF Tarrant Rushton to the Azores Islands with a crew of 7 and 14 passengers on board. While overflying Cornwall, the airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. All 21 occupants were killed.
Crew (644th Squadron):
F/Sgt Clifford William Akers,
F/O Peter Stafford Briggs,
F/Lt Jeremiah Charles Garnett,
F/Sgt William Mathias,
F/Lt Geoffrey Percival Ormesher,
AC2 Alan Ralph Titford,
F/Lt Gerald Theodore Bailey.
Passengers:
F/O Alan John Reardon,
LAC Leonard Roy Victor Cox,
AC1 Patrick Fitzgibbon,
LAC Cecil Everard Charles Hoborough,
LAC Roy William Nicholls,
Cpl Henry Phillip Mills,
LAC Selwyn Thomas,
LAC Thomas Smith Wallace,
LAC Ernest Raymond Richings,
LAC Stanley Price,
AC2 Dennis Martin,
LAC Edward Joseph Lynott,
LAC Edwin Arthur George Pettifer,
AC2 Robert Owen.
Source:
http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/showthread.php?4604-F-S-William-Henry-Mathias-1836211-Died-14-9-45-644-Sqd

Probable cause:

Due to an electrical failure, the dingy inflation valve was activated and the dingy blew up, came out of its wing stowage and fouled the tailplane assembly, restricting the elevators. The pilot lost control and the aircraft dove into the ground. This was almost a repeat of an accident reported earlier.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-15-DC Skymaster in Bodmin Moor

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

42-72249

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lajes - Saint Mawgan

MSN:

10354

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Circumstances:

While approaching St Mawgan (Newquay) Airport, weather conditions deteriorated and due to the failure of the radio compass, the crew was unable to land and decided to continue to Exeter. Few minutes later, following a wrong altimeter setting, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a hill and came to rest in flames near Bodmin Moor. All nine occupants were injured while the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Radio compass failure, poor weather conditions, low visibility and wrong altimeter setting on part of the crew contributed to a collision with terrain.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Gunnislake: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Registration:

43-5365

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

356

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The pilot was performing a liaison flight when the aircraft hit a hill near Gunnislake. The pilot was killed.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston III in RAF Portreath: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1943 at 0845 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

W8370

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed shortly after take off from RAF Portreath for unknown reason. Two crew members were killed while two others were seriously injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DL in Newquay: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

43-30733

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: