West Sussex

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

MSN:

547

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

During the last segment, the crew did not realize his altitude was too low. The aircraft hit the ground few yards short of runway. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was irreparable.

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

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1956

Type of aircraft:

Miles M.60 Marathon

Operator:

Registration:

XA254

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

106

YOM:

1950

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

After landing at RAF Thorney Island, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to stop. It overran, went through a concrete wall and came to rest on a beach. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. There were heavy rain falls and strong winds at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 near RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Varsity

Operator:

Registration:

WJ904

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

MSN:

625

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training mission out from RAF Thorney Island. In flight, the crew decided to shut down an engine to simulate an engine failure. Shortly later, the second engine stopped. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the crew decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the crew mistakenly shut down the wrong engine in flight, causing the aircraft to lose speed and height. In such conditions, an emergency landing was necessary.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1954

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Varsity

Operator:

Registration:

WF428

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

MSN:

570

YOM:

1952

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training at RAF Thorney Island. During the descent, the instructor voluntarily shot down an engine when on final, the remaining engine lost power. The aircraft lost speed, stalled and crashed short of runway. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine loss of power on final.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Tangmere: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

LN376

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tangmere - Tangmere

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Tangmere. On final approach, the right engine failed. The pilot-in-command continued the approach but on short final, decided to make a go around when the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located short of runway. Three crew members were injured while the captain was killed.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine on final approach for undetermined reason.

Craysh of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PG136

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

Location:

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Circumstances:

On touchdown at RAF Thorney Island, one of the main landing gear collapsed. The aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair and there were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Undercarriage collapsed on landing.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Thorney Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NA868

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Thorney Island - Thorney Island

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Thorney Island. During the final approach completed with one engine voluntarily inoperative, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located few hundred yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and both crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The stall on final approach was caused by an insufficient approach speed because the crew failed to monitor the speed indicator with one engine out. The distance between the aircraft and the ground when the stall occurred was too low to expect a recovery.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PG296

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training sortie at RAF Thorney Island. During the final approach completed with an engine voluntarily inoperative, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane when the second engine failed. The aircraft stalled and belly landed in a field located short of runway. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in RAF Tangmere

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

PG969

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site: