Stirlingshire | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was completing a night training flight and was returning to his base in Belfast-Aldergrove when the pilot in command lost his orientation and continued to the northeast to Scotland. While running out of fuel in low visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Fathan Glinne Mountain Range, near the village of Balquhidder, by the Loch Voil. A crew member was seriously injured while five others were killed.
Crew:
Sgt John James Westoby, pilot, †
Sgt William John Barnfather, pilot, †
Sgt John Whitsed, observer, †
Sgt James Gerrard Curtis, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt Jack Perfect, wireless operator and air gunner, †
Sgt W. S. Hamilton, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster near Balmaha: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

PB456

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Ludford Magna - Ludford Magna

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a night training exercise over Scotland. While cruising slightly off course, the bomber went out of control and dove into the ground. During the fall, the aircraft lost its tail and eventually crashed in flames on the slope of Conic Hill, one mile northeast of Balmaha. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (101st Squadron):
F/O Clare Edward Brooks, pilot,
Sgt Francis Alfred William Blerkom, flight engineer,
Sgt Edmund Foweather, navigator,
F/O Lloyd George Peardon, air bomber,
F/S Victor Jack Ward, wireless operator,
Sgt John Ridley Stokes, air gunner,
Sgt James Watt, air gunner.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined but apparently, the aircraft broke up in mid-air after the crew encountered unknown difficulties.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dominie near Cowie: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 7, 1941 at 1900 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Operator:

Registration:

R9563

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Hatston - Donibristle

MSN:

6491

YOM:

1940

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Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Hatston to transfer personnel in Donibristle, north of Edinburgh. En route, the crew encountered poor visibility due to rain falls when the airplane impacted the slope of a hill in Kempstone Hill, near Cowie. All six occupants were killed.
Crew (782nd Squadron):
P/O Walter C. Jones, pilot,
F/O Margaret Ethne Jean Dobson, copilot and navigator.
Passengers:
Lt Frederick Penrose Tennyson,
F/Lt J. L. Day,
Mr. Charles William Young, employee of Vickers Armstrong,
Mr. T. McCabe.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Moth in Kippen

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1941

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

AX792

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Kinloss - Witney

MSN:

1299

YOM:

1930

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Circumstances:

The airplane was ferried from Kinloss to Witney for a major inspection. En route, the pilot encountered engine problems and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in Kippen and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IF in Kippen

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1500

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Grangemouth - Grangemouth

MSN:

8783

YOM:

1939

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a training sortie out from RAF Grangemouth. While cruising in poor visibility due to bad weather conditions, the airplane impacted the slope of a hill located in Kippen, near Stirling. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were injured.
Crew:
P/O Russell Ernest Orchard, pilot,
AC1 M. J. Fahey,
AC1 F. A. Smith.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.