Surrey

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Brussels – Croydon

MSN:

30004

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew initiated the descent to Croydon at sunset. The visibility was poor due to a cloud ceiling down to 100 metres. Too low on approach, the three engine aircraft impacted tree tops, stalled and crashed in a wooded area located in Tatsfield, some 13 km southast of Croydon Airport, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed and all 11 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Jean Schroonbroodt, pilot,
Jean Desmet, radio navigator,
Alphonse Verbinnen, engineer,
Raymond Strechfuss, steward.

Probable cause:

It was concluded by the UK Accidents Investigation Branch that the pilot, who did not request bearings from the airport and tried to navigate on his own, had descended out of the clouds prematurely, apparently uncertain of his position. He then must have initiated a steep climbing turn to the left to avoid the surrounding hilltops or after realizing that the visible lights were in fact those of Biggin Hill Aerodrome, not Croydon. During the evasive manoeuvre, the SM.73 apparently lost flying speed and stalled, resulting in an uncontrolled descent. And after the stall, some of the passengers may have been thrown forward, causing a weight distribution imbalance that would have hindered the ability of the pilot to regain control. No evidence was found of any prior mechanical or structural failure in the aircraft.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.73P in Croydon

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1935 at 1700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Savoia-Marchetti SM.73

Operator:

Registration:

OO-AGM

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Brussels – Croydon

MSN:

30002

YOM:

1935

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Upon landing, the three engine airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All four crew members evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 139 Virginia X in Chobham

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1935

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Virginia

Operator:

Registration:

K2675

Flight Phase:

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Circumstances:

The pilot was forced to make an emergency landing in Chobham for undetermined reasons. All five crew members evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth in Redhill

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1935 at 1300 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

G-ABAS

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Redhill - Redhill

MSN:

1539

YOM:

1930

Location:

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Circumstances:

The pilot departed Redhill Aerodrome on a local solo training flight. Shortly after takeoff, he encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest. The pilot was slightly injured.

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

Date & Time: Feb 24, 1935

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

George Harvey Woodhouse

Registration:

G-ABAF

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Site:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Schedule:

Woodley – Brooklands

MSN:

1258

YOM:

1930

Location:

Brooklands (Weybridge)

Surrey

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Brooklands Airport. The pilot, sole on board, evacuated safely.

Crash of an Avro 504K in Croydon

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1935

Type of aircraft:

Avro 504

Operator:

Registration:

G-ABAY

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

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Circumstances:

While taking off from Croydon Airport, the single engine airplane went out of control and crashed onto a building. Both occupants were injured.

Crash of a Wibault 283.T12 in Croydon

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1934

Type of aircraft:

Wibault 282/283

Operator:

Registration:

F-AMHO

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-213

Schedule:

Paris – Croydon

MSN:

YOM:

1933

Location:

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Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Paris-Le Bourget, the airplane named 'Le Téméraire' crashed upon landing at Croydon Airport. All 10 occupants evacuated safely.

Crash of a Lioré-et-Olivier LeO H-213 in Croydon: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1934 at 0505 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

F-AIVG

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site: