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West Sussex

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Selsey

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
K8790
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Selsey
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During a night training exercise, while flying along the West Sussex coast, both engines failed. The crew ditched the aircraft into The Channel, off Sisley. Both pilots were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Dual engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
K8704
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
Location:
Thorney Island AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training exercise on behalf of the 48th Squadron. On final approach in foggy conditions, the aircraft was too low and the pilot initiated a go around when an engine failed. The aircraft stalled, impacted the runway surface, overshot and finally crashed into the Emsworth Channel. The twin engine aircraft sank rapidly. All four crew members were rescued, two were injured.
Crew:
Sgt R. E. Williams, pilot,
Sgt F. Burton, copilot,
LAC J. Meek,
AC1 D. Hider.
Probable cause:
Engine failure while initiating a go around.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Moth off Shoreham: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 27, 1939
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
G-ABBW
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Shoreham - Shoreham
MSN:
1277
YOM:
1930
Location:
Shoreham-by-Sea
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed Shoreham on a local private flight. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off Shoreham. The pilot was seriously injured but he died the following day due to injuries sustained.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus I off Littlehampton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Supermarine Walrus
Operator:
Registration:
L2173
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Ford - Ford
Location:
Littlehampton
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The float plane stalled and crashed into The Channel some 7 km off Littlehampton. Two crew members were killed and the third occupant was injured.
Crew:
S/Lt Jack Robertson, †
MSM Hugh Lawley Charteris, †
P/O Antonio Simmons Dini.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Tangmere

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
K6275
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tangmere - Tangmere
Location:
Tangmere AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Tangmere, the twin engine aircraft was too low, hit a hedge and crashed. All three crew members were slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Too low approach.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Tangmere

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
K6314
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tangmere - Tangmere
Location:
Tangmere AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Tangmere, the twin engine aircraft was hit by a flare and crash landed on the runway, bursting into flames. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control upon landing after being hit by a flare on approach.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley I off Selsey: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
K7211
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Dishforth - Dishforth
MSN:
1199
YOM:
1937
Location:
Selsey
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Dishforth on a night training flight over The Channel. In unknown circumstances, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea some 6 km south of Selsey. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew:
P/O Frederick William Miller,
P/O Allan Frederick William Miles,
Sgt Horace Cutts,
AC1 Harry Thompson,
AC1 Ralph Lavery,
AC1 John Robert Hanley.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I at RAF Tangmere

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
K8767
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tangmere - Tangmere
Location:
Tangmere AFB
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Tangmere on behalf of the 217th Squadron. Following a wrong approach configuration, the crew overshot and landed too far down the runway. After touchdown, the twin engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in a field. Both pilots evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.50 Heyford IIA in Stopham Bridge: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.50 Heyford
Operator:
Registration:
K4039
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mildenhall – Tangmere
Location:
Stopham Bridge
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route from RAF Mildenhall to RAF Tangmere at night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. The airplane deviated from the prescribed routing and eventually went out of control and crashed in a field located in Stophan Bridge, west of Pulborough. All four crew members were killed. At the time of the accident, the airplane was off course by 100 miles, probably after the pilot got lost in poor weather conditions.
Crew:
P/O Andrew Aitken,
Sgt Duncan Robert Francis Ross,
Cpl John Bennett,
LAC Willian Lemnal Sellince.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Moth off Shoreham

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1937
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
G-AALX
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Brooklands – Shoreham
MSN:
1410
YOM:
1930
Location:
Shoreham-by-Sea
West Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Shoreham, at an altitude of 1,000 feet, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed into the sea. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
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