Durham | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew departed RAF Thornaby on a air gunnery exercice. While flying off Seaham, County Durham, the twin engine airplane crashed into the sea some 7 km offshore. The wreckage was localized but no trace of both crew members.
Crew:
P/O Hubert John Keller, pilot,
P/O John Whyte Crichton Robertson, pilot.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Forest-in-Teesdale: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1939 at 1240 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Operator:

British American Air Services - BAAS

Registration:

G-AERE

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Heston – Newcastle

MSN:

6355

YOM:

1937

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While cruising in bad weather conditions on a taxi flight from Heston to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, the crew failed to realize he was flying too low. The twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Dora's Seat located near Middleton. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all three occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor due to mist.
Crew:
Ferruccio Silvani Appi, pilot,
James Elmslie, wireless operator.
Passenger:
John Lionel Crouch, famous British Jockey.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I on Mt Mickle Fell: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1252

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Upper Heyford – Driffield – Kingstown

MSN:

8535

YOM:

1938

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The crew departed RAF Upper Heyford on a bombing exercice over Carlisle. After a fuel stop at RAF Driffield, the crew continued to Kingstown. While cruising over the Pennines, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. The airplane descended too low until it impacted the slope of Mt Mickle Fell located 14 km west of Middleton-in-Teesdale. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O John Owen Sowerbutts, pilot,
AC1 William Ashbridge, air gunner,
AC2 Horace Redfern, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Urpeth Forge: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1938 at 1645 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

K7163

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Hemswell - Hemswell

MSN:

8116

YOM:

1938

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The crew was completing a training mission out from RAF Hemswell. While cruising in heavy rain falls, the pilot initiated a turn when he lost control of the airplane that entered a dive. The pilot was able to bail out and was uninjured while both other crewmen remained in the cabin and were killed when the airplane crashed in a field located in Urpeth Forge.
Crew:
P/O Alner Charles Newton, pilot,
Cpl Henry Edward West, navigator,
AC1 James Stewart Grey, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth in Medomsley

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1936

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBYV

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Cramlington - Cramlington

MSN:

648

YOM:

1928

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The pilot was performing a training flight over the region of Newcastle when he encountered poor weather conditions. He lost his orientation and decided to reduce his altitude, probably to establish a visual contact with the ground when a wing hit a stony wall located in Medomsley, some 16 km southwest of Newcastle. The aircraft crashed and came to rest upside down, broken in two. The pilot was injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth I in Consett: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 24, 1935 at 1645 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

G-ABRD

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Cramlington - Cramlington

MSN:

1877

YOM:

1931

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The pilot was performing a local private flight out from Cramlington. After making a low pass over his house, he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in an wheat field located in Woodlands Hall, near Consett. The pilot Alexander Edward Sprot was seriously injured while the passenger Samuel Edward Sprot was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60X Moth in Middlestone Moor

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1931

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBWI

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Middlestone Moor – Cramlington

MSN:

557

YOM:

1928

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Crashed on takeoff in Middlestone Moor, Durham. While taking off, the single engine airplane hit a hole, flipped over and came to rest upside down. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Lt R. McGevor, pilot.
Passenger:
Mrs. Cora Dick.

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:

Flight

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

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 Blackburn RT.1 Kangaroo in Seaton Carew AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1918

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn R.T.1 Kangaroo

Operator:

Registration:

B9983

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Seaton Carew AFB - Seaton Carew AFB

MSN:

B9983

YOM:

1918

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While landing, aircraft bounced and crashed into flames. Both occupants were killed.
Exact date of crash unknown. Plane crashed some date in 1918.

Crash of a Blackburn Kangaroo in Seaton Carew AFB

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1918

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn R.T.1 Kangaroo

Operator:

Registration:

B9976

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Seaton Carew AFB - Seaton Carew AFB

MSN:

B9976

YOM:

1918

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On final approach in bad visibility, aircraft was too low. It struck the ground short of runway and crashed. Both occupants were injured. Crew was performing a training flight on behalf of the 246th Squadron.

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