Inverness-shire | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While on a training exercise out from RAF Lossiemouth, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In limited visibility, the bomber went off course by 60 km when it impacted the slope of Mt Geal-Chàrn located 7,5 km northeast of Corrour. Five crew members were killed and one was badly injured.
Crew (20th OTU):
F/O James William Heck, pilot, †
Sgt Maurice Hutt, bomb aimer, †
Sgt William Ernest Riley, navigator, †
Sgt Joseph Towers, navigator, †
Sgt James Hemmings, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Philip Edward Underwood, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I near RAF Dalcross: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

W5081

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Dalcross - Dalcross

MSN:

3241/17

YOM:

1941

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The crew was engaged in a local training flight at RAF Dalcross on behalf of the 8th Air Gunner School. For unknown reasons, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the vicinity of the airbase. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Ian Telfer, pilot,
Lac Leslie Hutt, wireless operator,
Cpl Ernest Gournac, wireless operator,
Cpl Eugène Aubry, air gunner.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV off Inverness: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z6033

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Inverness - MacMerry

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The airplane departed Inverness on a flight to RAF MacMerry, carrying a crew of four. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the left engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed in shallow water in the Moray Firth. A crew was drowned and three others were rescued. The airplane was destroyed.
Crew:
P/O Walter Robert Mummery, pilot,
Sgt William Jack Owen Nightingale, observer, †
Lt K. A. Whittome,
Sgt J. H. Field, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine during initial climb.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon II in Inverness

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1939

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

Operator:

Registration:

G-ADCT

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Glasgow – Inverness

MSN:

6095

YOM:

1935

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Circumstances:

On final approach to Inverness-Dalcross Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances short of runway. All eight occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon off Inverness

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1935

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

Operator:

Registration:

G-ACGK

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Inverness – Kirkwall

MSN:

6033

YOM:

1933

Location:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after take off from Inverness Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in the Beauly Firth. All three occupants were injured while the aircraft was lost.