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Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in RAF Bovingdon

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Payloads Charter Company
Registration:
G-AIWT
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1338
YOM:
1946
Location:
Bovingdon AFB
Hertfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Handley Page HP.70 Halifax VIII in Bergamo

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHZJ
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bergamo – Stansted
MSN:
1331
YOM:
1946
Location:
Bergamo
Lombardy
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft christened 'Port of Marseilles' was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
A tyre burst during the takeoff roll, causing the aircraft to be uncontrollable.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Heathrow

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIHW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Valencia - London
MSN:
1357
YOM:
1946
Location:
London-Heathrow
London Metropolis
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed very hard. After being parked on apron, the technician proceeded to a complete inspection which revealed that the fuselage was buckled. The aircraft was declared as damaged beyond economical repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who failed to follow the published approach procedure and failed to complete a correct flare, causing the aircraft to land hard.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Barcelona

Date & Time: May 30, 1947 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIOH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
London – Barcelona
MSN:
1324
YOM:
1946
Location:
Barcelona
Catalonia
Country:
Spain
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 cargo flight from London-Gatwick to Barcelona. After touchdown, the four engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage, went through a fence, slid for several yards and lost its both left engines before coming to rest. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It is believed that the landing was completed with an excessive speed.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII off Knokke-Heist: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1946 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHZN
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bergamo – London-Heathrow
MSN:
1328
YOM:
1946
Location:
Knokke-Heist
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Enroute, the pilot encountered technical problems and was unable to receive Radio Navigation Directional Bearings. To avoid any fuel shortage, he decided to ditch the aircraft off Knokke-Heist in the early morning. The aircraft landed about 100 yards offshore and sank. While all three crew members were able to swim to the beach, the passenger, a Norwegian citizen, was drowned. The aircraft was carrying a load of grapes.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Elstree

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHZM
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Elstree - Elstree
MSN:
1333
YOM:
1946
Location:
Elstree
Hertfordshire
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 completing a test flight in Elstree Airfield. On final approach, during the last segment, the pilot in command stalled the aircraft that landed hard. On impact, the undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft came to rest on runway. While all four crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Lawshall: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
PP232
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Lawshall
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While completing a training sortie at low height, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a huge explosion in a field. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (304th Squadron):
F/Lt Dabrowski,
F/Lt Matylis,
F/Sgt Michalak.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by a pilot error.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Tarrant Rushton: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
NA461
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tarrant Rushton - Tarrant Rushton
Location:
Tarrant Rushton
Dorset
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after liftoff, while in initial climb, the pilot in command reduced the engine power. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. The aircraft was destroyed and all six crew members were killed. They were involved in a local training sortie.
Probable cause:
It appears the rotation was initiated prematurely, at low speed. Immediately after takeoff, the PIC reduced the engine power, causing the aircraft to stall due to an insufficient speed.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in RAF Aldermaston

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
PP325
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1387
YOM:
1945
Location:
Aldermaston AFB
Berkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
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