Worcestershire | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While cruising in sleet showers, the left engine failed. The pilot reduced his altitude and completed a wheels-up landing in an open field. There were no casualties and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine in flight.

Ground accident of an Avro 706 Ashton Mk.3 at RAF Defford

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1955

Type of aircraft:

Avro 706 Ashton

Operator:

Registration:

WB492

Flight Phase:

Taxiing

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Defford - Defford

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The crew was engaged in a test flight on behalf of the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE). While taxiing, a fire broke out in a wheel well. The pilot was able to stop the airplane and all five occupants escaped without any injuries. The airplane was considered as damaged beyond repair and later transferred to Farnborough for structural test.

Probable cause:

Wheel fire during taxiing.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford T.1 in Great Malvern: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1953

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

BG271

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

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While performing a training flight with one engine voluntarily inoperative, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Childswickham: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

EF937

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Halfpenny Green - Halfpenny Green

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During a training mission, the twin engine aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (3rd AFU):
F/Sgt Leslie Wall, pilot,
P/O John Henry Young, observer,
F/Sgt Thomas James Reardon, wireless operator,
Sgt Wallace Joseph Holberry, bomber.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Bredon Hill: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

V3769

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

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While conducting a GEE exercise, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Micheal Larkin, pilot,
F/Lt Ivor Reginald Sims, observer,
Sgt George William Stafford, observer.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II near Wythall: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1942 at 0915 LT

Type of aircraft:

Vickers 406 Wellington II

Operator:

Registration:

W5356

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Binbrook - Binbrook

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The airplane departed RAF Binbrook at 0438LT on an operation to Cherbourg. While returning to base in the morning, an engine overheated and a second lost power. The pilot decided to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in an open field located near Wythall, bursting into flames. Three crew members were killed and three others were injured. One of the survivor died two days later from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Sgt Douglas Butterworth, pilot, †
P/O Alan William Breck, copilot,
P/O Wilfred Henry Burnham, observer, †
Sgt Charles Edward Morrey, wireless operator, †
Sgt Brian Franklin, wireless operator, †
Sgt Horace Bernard Cable, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Engine failure and fire.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Honeybourne

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1941 at 0010 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

AD933

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Waddington - Waddington

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The airplane departed RAF Waddington at 1710LT on November 27 on an operation to Düsseldorf. While returning to base the following night, it ran out of fuel and crash landed in a field located near the Honeybourne railway station. All four crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt B. D. Moss,
Sgt Ross,
Sgt Seagoe,
Sgt Hackett.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Badsey: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1941 at 0040 LT

Type of aircraft:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Operator:

Registration:

AD935

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Scampton – Scampton

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The airplane departed RAF Scampton at 2020LT on August 13 on a training exercise. At 0040LT, it impacted trees and crashed in Badsey, two miles east of Evesham. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
P/O Ernest Rene Davis, pilot, †
Sgt Gilbert Arthur Newbold, pilot, †
Sgt W. Wells.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV at RAF Worcester: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1232

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Pembrey - Worcester

MSN:

8515

YOM:

1938

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Upon a night landing at RAF Worcester (RLG), the aircraft overshot and collided with trees and a house, bursting into flames. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Thomas Lindsay Armstrong, pilot.