Kent

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Vickers FB.27 Vimy Commercial

Schedule:

Penshurst - Ashford

MSN:

E4180

YOM:

1919

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

Showing off to a crowd often leads to embarrassment, as the pilot of an Avro 504 K discovered back in 1921. G-EAFQ was supposed to be flying from Penshurst to Ashford on the afternoon of 26th November - at the controls was Mr. R.H. Leavy, with a Mr. T. Baden-Powell as passenger. After making a short test flight the pilot took off again with the intention of heading for a temporary aerodrome at Ashford. On climbing to about 600 feet in an easterly direction, Leavy commenced a gradual turn to port until the Avro 504 arrived over a football ground on which a game was in progress. The machine was then banked vertically and the pilot, at 400 feet, waved his arm at the spectators. Unfortunately G-EAFQ fell rapidly into a side-slip and only partially recovered before striking the ground about 200 yards outside the touchline. The aircraft was fitted with dual controls - the passenger had not, however, interfered with them in any way. The men scrambled from the wreckage, Mr. Leavy having received nothing worse than cuts to the face, and Mr. Baden-Powell was unhurt.

Probable cause:

Investigators were a bit peeved that no log books had been kept for the machine, and the owners (Stallard Airways) had no records for the life of the machine. In the opinion of the AIB, the accident was due to "..the pilot's carelessness in paying more attention to the spectators on the ground than to the conduct of his machine."

Crash of a Vickers FB.27 Vimy Commercial in Manston: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1921

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

F9157

Flight Phase:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Manston - Manston

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Manston on a local training flight. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 200 feet, the pilot initiated a turn when the aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five occupants were killed. The loss of control occurred during initial climb in strong winds.
Crew:
F/O Leslie Wallis Beal,
AC1 Terence Curtis,
AC2 Robert J. Reeves,
AC2 Albert Arthur Revell,
AC2 Walter Edward Thrupp.

Crash of a Blériot Spad 27 in Bekesbourne

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1921

Type of aircraft:

Blériot Spad 27

Operator:

Registration:

F-CMAY

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Croydon - Paris

MSN:

1254

YOM:

1920

Location:

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En route from Croydon to Paris-Le Bourget, the pilot encountered technical problems and elected to make an emergency landing in Bekesbourne. At low height, the aircraft collided with a telephone line then crashed on the railway road between Bekesbourne and Adisham. All three occupants evacuated safely, only the pilot suffered minor injuries. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4A in Folkestone: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1921 at 1433 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.4

Operator:

Registration:

O-BAIN

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Croydon - Brussels

MSN:

H5915

YOM:

1920

Location:

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Circumstances:

The pilot Prosper Georges was performing a cargo flight from Croydon to Brussels on behalf of SNETA, the Syndicat National pour l'Étude du Transport Aérien. The aircraft departed Croydon Airport at 1343LT and continued towards the east. While approaching The Channel, the visibility dropped due to mist and the pilot decided to return. During the last turn, the aircraft hit a hill near the pub called 'The Valiant Sailor' and crashed. The pilot was seriously injured and died from his injuries three days later.

Probable cause:

The Investigation Report for the incident says that the cargo was a mere 8.5lbs in weight and 150lbs of ballast. Mons.George was a very experienced pilot and had flown that type of aircraft on the same route many times before. O-BAIN was seen approaching the Dover-Folkestone road from the west and was dimly seen passing just over the roof of a farmhouse. It then turned to starboard, towards rising ground, and crashed in a field 546 feet above sea level. Just before impact it was noted that the engine appeared to be running satisfactorily. Examination of the wrecked Airco showed that the starboard plane had struck the ground first, an interplane and part of the bottom wing tip being embedded in the earth. From that point to where the main wreckage lay, a distance of 90 yards, the collapse of the parts of the machine could be traced from the marks on the ground. The entire fuselage was shattered as far back as the passengers cabin. All control cables were found to be intact and in serviceable condition. The accident was blamed on poor visibility.

Source: ASN.

Crash of a Fairey IIIC in Dover: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1920

Type of aircraft:

Fairey III

Operator:

G. L. P. Henderson

Registration:

G-EAMY

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

F.246

YOM:

1919

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The arew was performing a flight from England to Sweden where the aircraft should be delivered to a local operator. Shortly after takeoff from Dover, Kent, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field, killing both occupants. The aircraft was owned by the British Aviator Lt Col G. L. P. Henderson who was not on board. He died in another accident on 21JUL1930 in Meopham.

Crash of an Avro 504K in Joyce Green

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1920

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Registration:

G-EACV

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Joyce Green - Brooklands

MSN:

E4233

YOM:

1919

Location:

Joyce Green (Dartford)

Kent

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The pilot was performing a training flight from Joyce Green Airport, in Dartford, Kent, to Brooklands Airport, Weybridge, Surrey. Shortly after take off, he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a field. While the pilot was injured, the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Breguet 14 in Swingate

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1920

Type of aircraft:

Breguet 14

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Site:

Schedule:

Paris - London

Location:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Swingate, near Dover, while performing a mail flight from Paris to London.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4A off Folkestone

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1919

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.4

Operator:

Registration:

G-EAHG

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Interlaken - Paris - Croydon

MSN:

F2694

YOM:

1919

Location:

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Circumstances:

The pilot, Major-General Edward James Montagu-Stuart-Wortley, was returning to Croydon following an exhibition in Interlaken, Switzerland. After a fuel stop in Paris-Le Bourget, he continued to his base in Croydon. While overflying The Channel and approaching the British coast, he encountered foggy conditions and the visibility was low. Eventually, the aircraft crashed in the sea off Folkestone, Kent. The pilot was rescued while the aircraft was lost.

Crash of an Avro 536 in Manston

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1919

Type of aircraft:

Avro 536

Operator:

Registration:

G-EACG

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

Survivors: