Country
code

Suffolk

Crash of a Vickers 271 Wellington at RAF Martlesham Heath: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K4049
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Martlesham Heath - Martlesham Heath
MSN:
01
YOM:
1936
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a test flight on this first prototype (271 model). Shortly after takeoff from RAF Martlesham Heath, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed past the runway end. A pilot was killed while the second one was seriously injured.
Crew:
F/Lt Maurice Hare,
AC1 George Peter Smurthwaite. †
Probable cause:
The cause of the crash was attributed to elevator overbalance in a high speed dive, which resulted in inversion and structural failure.

Crash of a Boulton & Paul P.64 in Martlesham Heath: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1933
Registration:
G-ABYK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Martlesham Heath AFB - Martlesham Heath AFB
MSN:
P.64
YOM:
1933
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was engaged in a local test flight on this machine that was built by Boulton & Paul's factory seven months ago. During initial climb, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed. The pilot was killed.

Crash of a Spartan Three Seater I in Stanton: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1932
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-ABTT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Heston – Norwich
MSN:
64
YOM:
1932
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Heston to Norwich, while taking part to the 'Morning Post' Air Race, the pilot lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed into trees near Stanton, Suffolk. The pilot Frank George Gibbons was killed.
Probable cause:
It was believed that the pilot was looking at a map inside the cockpit at the time of the accident. Poor weather conditions may also have contributed to the accident.

Crash of a Fairey IIIF in Sudbury: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1930 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
J9637
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
F.1139
YOM:
1928
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Bircham Newton with two pilots on board. While cruising in foggy conditions, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an orchard. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Donald Mackenzie,
Cpl Leonard Edward Barnard.

Crash of a Bristol Type 25 Braemar II in Martlesham Heath: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C4297
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Martlesham Heath - Martlesham Heath
MSN:
3752
YOM:
1919
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight out from Martlesham Heath Aerodrome. During the takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that collided with a hangar and came to rest. Two crew members were killed, one was seriously injured and the fourth escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Flt Lt Oliver Manners Sutton, †
2nd Class Charles J. Sheridan, †
Cpl Cecil Stanley Ellison,
AC2 F. T. Barman.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.10A Amiens IIIA in Hasketon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1921 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F8423
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Martlesham Heath - Martlesham Heath
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed RAF Martlesham Heath on a local test flight. En route, while flying at a relative low altitude, the aircraft stalled and entered an uncontrolled descent before crashing in an open field located in Hasketon, Suffolk. The pilot F/o Harold William Gardner was killed.
Probable cause:
The aeroplane stalled after coming out of a left handed spin: there not being sufficient height for the Pilot to get control again. There is no evidence to show why the aeroplane got into a spin. The purpose of the flight was to practice on this type of machine which was new to the pilot.

Crash of a Felixstowe F.5 off Felixstowe: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1920
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4044
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Felixstowe - Felixstowe
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Felixstowe on a training mission on behalf of the 230th Squadron. Shortly after takeoff, the seaplane stalled and crashed in the sea few hundred metres offshore. Two crew members were rescued while four others were killed.
Crew:
S/L Edwin Roland Moon, †
F/O Albert John Fyfield, †
Sub-Lt Guiltherine J. Da Fonseca, †
AC2 Gerald Tipping Bass, †
F/Lt Charles Oscar Modin,
F/O Louis Henry Pakenham-Walsh.

Crash of a Felixstowe F.4 Fury off Felixstowe: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1919
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N123
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Felixstowe - Felixstowe
MSN:
1
YOM:
1918
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The five engine seaplane was prepared at Felixstowe for its long trip to South Africa the next day. A last local test flight was scheduled out from Felixstowe with seven crew members on board. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing at a speed of 145 km/h, the aircraft stalled and crashed in the sea some 500 metres offshore. Six crew members were rescued while the seventh was killed. The aircraft was supposed to leave Felixstowe on August 12 on a trip to Durban via Gibraltar, Malta, Alexandria, Khartoum, Victoria Nyanza, Lake Tanganyika, Lake Nyassa and Beira.
Crew:
Col T. S. M. Fellowes, Office in charge,
Maj Edwin Roland Moon, pilot,
Cpt C. L. Scott, pilot,
Lt J. F. Armitt, chief engineer,
Lt S. E. S. McLeod, wireless operator, †
W/O J. G. Cockburn, mechanic,
W/O H. S. Locker, mechanic.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the aircraft may have been loaded incorrectly. Major Moon at the controls apparently left the water before the safe flying speed and with insufficient power left to draw on, the aircraft stalled.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.6 in Aldeburgh: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1919
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C6861
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Aldeburgh - Aldeburgh
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at RAF Aldeburgh. At a height of about 300 feet, the single engine airplane collided with a second RAF DH.6 registered C7829 and also carrying two pilots. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield. Both pilots on board C7829 were killed while both pilots on board C6861 were seriously injured. One of them died two days later.
Crew (1st MOS):
Lt A. G. Wyatt, †
Sgt L. D. Adock.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.6 in Aldeburgh: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1919
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
C7829
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Aldeburgh - Aldeburgh
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at RAF Aldeburgh. At a height of about 300 feet, the single engine airplane collided with a second RAF DH.6 registered C6861 and also carrying two pilots. Both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield. Both pilots on board C7829 were killed while both pilots on board C6861 were seriously injured. One of them died two days later.
Crew (1st MOS):
Lt Cyril Victor Clarence Wright,
Lt Edward William Sydney Jacobi.