Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Lympne

Date & Time: May 1, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGOJ
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6850
YOM:
1945
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Landed hard, bounced and came to rest at Lympne Aerodrome, Kent. All six occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at Manston: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WL633
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island – Manston
YOM:
1953
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from RAF Thorney Island, the crew completed a normal approach to Manston Airport. After touchdown, the airplane deviated from the centerline of the runway to the left. The pilot-in-command elected to correct the deviation but after a run of about 250 meters, the airplane hit a snow wall, ground looped for about 130° and came to rest in flames 30 meters farther with its left wing sheared off. Two cadets were uninjured while three other crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the loss of control upon landing was not determined with certainty.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.104 Dove 2 in Dungeness

Date & Time: Jan 15, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AOCE
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Rotterdam – Southend
MSN:
04044
YOM:
1955
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching the British coast on a flight from Rotterdam to Southend, the crew was informed by ATC that a landing at Southend was impossible due to foggy conditions and was rerouted to Lydd Airport. On final, the crew was forced to make a go around because he was unable to locate the runway. Few minutes later, a second attempt to land at Lydd was also abandoned. While flying vertical to the Dungeness beaches, both engines failed. The crew reduced his altitude and completed an emergency landing. The airplane slid for dozen yards before coming to rest. All seven occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Ramsgate

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1957
Registration:
G-AGUF
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Ramsgate - Ramsgate
MSN:
6855
YOM:
1945
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff while involved in a local plaisance flight. All eight occupants escaped with minor injuries while the airplane was written off.

Crash of a Convair CV-240-4 off Folkestone: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1954 at 2300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HB-IRW
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Geneva – London
MSN:
61
YOM:
1948
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While overflying The Channel by night at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the port engine stopped. The captain feathered its propeller, informed ATC about his position and obtained the permission to divert to Manston Airport. Few minutes later, the right engine failed as well. The crew decided to ditch the aircraft about 12 km off Folkestone. After one hour, four crew members and two passengers were rescued by the crew of a boat while three other passengers drowned. The aircraft later sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Failure of both engine in flight following a fuel exhaustion. It was determined that at the time of the accident, fuel tanks were empty as the aircraft was not refueled prior to takeoff from Geneva Airport. Investigations revealed that the crew requested to refuel before takeoff but for unknown reason, this operation was not completed. Also, both pilots failed to follow the pre-departure checklist and failed to check the fuel jauges prior to departure.

Crash of a Avro 683 Lancaster MR.3 in RAF West Malling: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1952 at 0100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RE200
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Saint Eval - West Malling
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While completing an exercice, the crew informed ground about a fire on board and elected to divert to RAF West Malling for an emergency landing. On final approach by night, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in an orchard located short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and four crew members were killed, seven others were injured. Those killed were:
F/Lt Harry John King,
F/Sgt William McKune,
LAC John Albert Bacon,
LAC Raymond Henry Pearson.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a flare accidentally ignited in flight. For unknown reason, the crew was unable to extinguish the fire in time, necessitating an emergency landing.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X off Margate: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RP320
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to a night exercice called 'Emperor'. While cruising over the Thames estuary, the Wellington collided with a Belgian Air Force De Havilland Mosquito registered MM757 and carrying a crew of two. Both aircraft dove into the sea and crashed about 5 miles off Reculver. All seven crew members on both aircraft were killed.
Crew from Wellington:
Sgt Allan Warboys,
F/Sgt Arthur Gordon Goodfellow,
Cdt Alan Frederick George Marshall,
Cdt Alister MacIntosh Dougall,
Sgt George Stanley Stansby.
Crew from Mosquito:
Cpt Christian Henrard,
Sgt Joseph Tytgat.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson XI off Margate

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1950
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PH611
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a liaison flight from Bückeburg, Lower Saxony, to England. While approaching the English coast, an engine failed, forcing the crew to ditch the aircraft about ten miles northeast of Margate, Kent. Both crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Ground fire of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Lympne

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1950
Operator:
Registration:
G-AKME
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lympne - Lympne
MSN:
6767
YOM:
1948
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the engine start up, a fire erupted. All occupants were able to vacate the cabin before the aircraft would be destroyed by fire. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X off Birchington-on-Sea: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RP500
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Manston - Manston
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training sortie over the North Sea when the right engine failed in flight. The captain reduced his altitude and elected to return to Manston for an emergency landing. While descending to an altitude of 800 feet and while flying across the last cloud layer, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea, few miles off Birchington-on-Sea. A crew member was killed while three others were rescued.
Probable cause:
Failure of the right engine.