Country
code

North Yorkshire

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at RAF Topcliffe: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1964
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF329
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
MSN:
521
YOM:
1951
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Topcliffe. Following several manoeuvres performed uneventfully, the crew was approaching the airbase with an engine voluntarily off to simulate an engine failure. On short final by night, the airplane stalled and crashed in a field short of runway threshold. Both pilots were killed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson T.21 at RAF Leeming

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1959
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WJ514
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Binbrook - Leeming
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight from RAF Binbrook to RAF Leeming. On touchdown, the tail wheel detached. The airplane swung on runway and went out of control before coming to rest. While both crew members were uninjured, the airplane was considered as damaged beyond repair. Strong cross winds were blowing at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta T.4 at RAF Leeming

Date & Time: Aug 6, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WJ467
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leeming - Leeming
MSN:
592
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at RAF Leeming and was completing local single engine circuits and bumps. After takeoff, the operating engine failed. The airplane lost speed and height and belly landed in a cornfield located at Holtby Hall next to the A1, about 3 miles north of the airbase. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Pilot was Sgt M. J. Perry. Thanks to his son Roger Perry for the photos.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff while the aircraft was operated on single engine configuration. The cause of the engine failure remains unknown.

Crash of a Miles M.60 Marathon T.2 at RAF Topcliffe

Date & Time: May 5, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA253
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
MSN:
105
YOM:
1950
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful training flight, the crew landed at RAF Topcliffe and started the braking procedure when the undercarriage were mistakenly raised by the crew. The aircraft sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. All four crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew raised the landing gear instead of the flaps after touchdown.

Crash of a Miles M.60 Marathon at RAF Topcliffe

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA268
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
MSN:
121
YOM:
1950
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed at RAF Topcliffe for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Miles M.60 Marathon T.2 at RAF Topcliffe

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA250
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
MSN:
102
YOM:
1949
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie at RAF Topcliffe. Upon touchdown, the leg of a main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. While all four crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed upon landing.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota C.4 near RAF Dishforth: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1957
Operator:
Registration:
KN649
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
16593/33341
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
5400
Copilot / Total flying hours:
4700
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight on behalf of the 242th OCU and the airplane was carrying a load of various goods. En route, the crew informed ATC about the failure of the right engine that caught fire and requested permission to divert to the nearest airport. The crew was then vectored to RAF Dishforth and started the descent. Few minutes later, while still at an altitude of few hundred meters, the right engine detached. Out of control, the airplane nosed down and plunged into the earth, crashing in a field located 5 miles from Dishforth airbase. A crew who was able to bail out just before impact was seriously injured while three other occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that a leak occurred on a hydraulic hose, causing the fluid to flow into the engine nacelle. While contact high temperature components, the fluid caught fire and later, the engine exploded and detached.

Crash of a Miles M.60 Marathon T.1 at RAF Topcliffe

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA255
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
107
YOM:
1950
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Damaged beyond repair after a hard landing at RAF Topcliffe. There were no injuries.

Crash of a Lockheed P2V-2 Neptune MR.1 at RAF Topcliffe

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WX546
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Topcliffe - Topcliffe
MSN:
426-5159
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reason, the aircraft belly landed at RAF Topcliffe and came to a halt on the runway. All seven crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 at RAF Dishforth

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VW204
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Dishforth - Dishforth
MSN:
360
YOM:
24
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie at RAF Dishforth. On final approach by night, the instructor decided to make a go around when the airplane stalled and crashed in flames about 800 yards short of runway. All three crew members were rescued while the aircraft was destroyed by fire.