Merseyside | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While flying over the Irish Sea, enroute from Belfast to Liverpool, the pilot was forced to ditch the aircraft off Southport. He was quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of an Avro 19 in Liverpool

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1946

Type of aircraft:

Avro 19

Operator:

Registration:

G-AGUE

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Liverpool - Liverpool

MSN:

1276

YOM:

1945

Location:

Liverpool-John Lennon (ex Speke)

Merseyside

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew, consisting of one pilot and one engineer, were engaged in a post maintenance control flight. Shortly after takeoff from Speke Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24H-20-CF Liberator near Birkenhead: 24 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1944 at 1540 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

42-50347

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Greencastle - Tibenham

MSN:

778

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with heavy rain falls and turbulence. The four engine bomber exploded in mid-air and dove into the ground before crashing in a field in a huge explosion. All 24 occupants were killed.
Crew:
William Driscoll,
Harold W. Olsen,
J. P. Hennessy,
Roy W. Sechler,
Reginald H. Gehman.
Passengers:
Vincent P. Hamilton,
William F. Price,
Richard M. Blake,
Edward F. Brick,
George J. Leary,
Roland F. Mosher,
Stephen J. Nagy,
Clesen H. Tenney,
Loran A. Umpleby,
Ralph G. Wills,
Robert E. Boyd,
James E. Patterson,
Robert L. Marshall,
Flyod K. Relyea,
Joseph L. Arrigotti,
Albert Engasser,
Frederick L. Mootz,
George S. Moss,
Clarence K. Smith.

Probable cause:

At the time of the accident, the cloud base was at 1,000 feet with an estimated horizontal visibility up to 7 miles. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the explosion that cause the in flight disintegration of the aircraft. Furthermore, the assumption that the aircraft would have suffered a structural failure was not ruled out. Finally, investigations have been able to determine that no mechanical failure and no fire occurred prior to the final impact.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I in New Brighton

Date & Time: Feb 7, 1942 at 1920 LT

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6249

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

North Coates - Squires Gate

MSN:

7866/46

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was on a reconnaissance flight from RAF North Coates to RAF Squires Gate. After passing Liverpool, while flying over the Mersey River, it collided with the cable of a barrage balloon and crash landed in New Brighton. Both crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/O Jackson-Smith,
P/O Griffin.

Probable cause:

Collision with the cable of a barrage balloon.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Southport: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

R3399

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Carlisle – Hawarden

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was in charge to convoy the aircraft from RAF Carlisle to RAF Hawarden. En route, a lack of fuel forced the pilot to attempt an emergency landing in Southport when the twin engine aircraft crashed. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew (9th FPP):
F/L Dennis Brian Brooks, pilot.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Liverpool

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1200

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

8483

YOM:

1938

Location:

Liverpool-John Lennon (ex Speke)

Merseyside

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The bomber crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Liverpool-Speke Airport. All three crew members were rescued, among them one was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Caddies,
P/O Cohen,
Sgt Coiles.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Liverpool

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

P5095

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Linton-on-Ouse - Linton-on-Ouse

MSN:

1803

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following a bombing mission over Milan, Italy, the crew was returning to base when he lost his orientation due to poor weather conditions. After the airplane ran out of fuel, the captain decided to ditch the aircraft in the Mersey, off Liverpool. All five occupants were rescued and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (51st Squadron):
Sgt Anthony Denis Wright, pilot,
P/O Stanley Gordon Hookway, pilot,
Sgt Taylor, observer,
Sgt McKenzie, wireless operator,
Sgt Kelby, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Dornier DO.17Z-3 near Liverpool

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Dornier DO.17

Operator:

Registration:

7T+AH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2783

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in an operation to Liverpool. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by enemy fire and crash landed. All four crew members became PoW.
Crew:
Lt Walter Stirnar, pilot,
Lt Heinrich Würdemann, observer,
Uffz Martin Küttner, mechanic,
Uffz Fritz Schörnigh, radio operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-1 in Port Sunlight: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1940 at 1615 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Registration:

M7+DK

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

4068

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was engaged in a mission to bomb the Rootes Factory at Speke when it was shot down by the crew of a Hurricane and crashed in Port Sunlight. A crew members was killed and three others were injured and became PoW.
Crew:
Oblt Helmuth Brückmann, pilot,
Lt Herbert Schlegel, observer, †
Uffz Helmut Weth, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sfhr Horst Lehmann, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a British fighter.