De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth

The pilot and his passengers were performing a local flight over the sea off East London. While flying around the hospital ship named 'Gloucester Castle', the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. The pilot was rescued and both passengers were killed.
Crew:
R. A. K. Pohl, pilot.
Passengers:
Jack Dewar, †
G. J. LeGrange. †

Shortly after takeoff from the icy Mälaren Lake, while climbing, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed. Both occupants were killed.

The pilot Robert S. Gray was performing a solo training flight. Few minutes after takeoff from Redhill Airport, the single engine aircraft owned by the Redhill Flying Club crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in Horne, east of Horley. The pilot was killed.

Crashed on takeoff for unknown reasons. The pilot, sole on board, was injured.

En route from Toronto to Detroit, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a wheat field located near Saint Mary's. The pilot and both passengers were killed.
Crew:
Arthur D. Leavens, pilot.
Passengers:
Al Ogden,
Charles Sockett.

While flying over the Trinity Bay, off Cairns, the single engine aircraft crashed into the sea some 16 km off Cairns. The pilot and a young boy aged 13 were injured while a girl aged 15 was killed. It appears that the aircraft was descending to the sea at a normal rate when it impacted the water surface and crashed.

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Seine estuary, off Le Havre, while on a flight from Villacoublay to Lympne, Kent. The pilot was rescued while the aircraft was salvaged but later declared as damaged beyond repair. The airplane was carrying a load of jewelry from Spanish Nationalist refugees.

The pilot encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing. The single engine aircraft collided with trees and crashed in North Heath Farm. Both occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crashed upon takeoff from Mount Garnett Airport. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

On the day of the fatal crash, Air Taxis Ltd had not authorized the flight, although in the past they had allowed Tonge to use the Puss Moth for his own pleasure at weekends if it wasn't required for business. The passenger, Scrase, was apparently only slightly acquainted with the pilot - which didn't stop them drinking in a pub together through the afternoon. At 16.30 the pair arrived at the hangar and Scrase was installed in the plane - Tonge then asked the mechanic if he could tell him the compass course to Brighton. They took off, but G-ADLP landed a few minutes later at Kenley where the pilot sought out a friend and, together with his passenger, they retired to a pub for over an hour. It was reported that Tonge sank two pints in that time, and Scrase three. At 17.55 hours the pilot and passenger returned to the machine and took off to continue their journey to Brighton, but before leaving the vicinity of Kenley, the pilot made several steep dives at the aerodrome buildings. The Puss Moth then departed at a height of 1500 feet. About ten minutes later the aeroplane was seen flying over Ashdown Forest at around 600 feet - it descended and circled around an open space at Wych Cross, then headed south. After two miles G-ADLP was then seen to circle a football field twice, and head south again at 500 feet. A minute later the aircraft descended towards a field which, however, was obstructed by power cables - at a height of 30 feet, the engine was 'opened up' and the Puss Moth climbed away steeply to 1000 feet. It then appeared to commence a turn whilst still climbing, and it immediately fell into a spin which continued until the aircraft plunged into some trees. The first person to reach the scene found the pilot dead with extensive head injuries. The passenger was laid over the pilot's shoulder and, in a semi conscious condition, he uttered; "1,500 feet. 1,000 feet, we're falling: Can't you do something man! 500 feet Oh God!". There was a very pronounced smell of alcohol in the cabin, and particularly from the passenger's breath.
Source:
http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=892.0;wap2