British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC

Just after takeoff from the Surabaya Bay, while in initial climb, the seaplane lost a float, lost height and crashed into the sea. All 25 occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was lost.

One hour after his departure from Tengah, bound for Colombo, the captain informed ATC that the oil pressure dropped on one engine and received the permission to return to Tengah Airport. After touchdown, the four engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway, overran, went down an embankment and came to rest. There were no injuries among the 18 occupants but the aircraft was written off.

The crew started the approach to Marseille-Marignane Airport in foggy conditions. The aircraft hit a cliff located near Cape Sicié, south of Toulon. All six occupants were killed.

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Ionian Sea off Locri, Calabria. All occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft sank and was lost.

While cruising at low height in poor weather conditions, the seaplane hit the slope of a hill and crashed in Brightstone Down, Isle of Wight. A crew member was killed, three others were injured.

The approach to Bahrain was completed by night and the crew landed in the Marine Base at an indicated speed of 85 to 90 knots. Upon landing, the seaplane had a tendency to nose down so the captain counteracted with the control column and increased power simultaneously. The aircraft bounced, left water for about one to two seconds and then veered sharply to the left. Out of control, it plunged into water and came to rest. Three crew members and seven passengers were killed.

Enroute from Cairo to Basra, the crew was informed by ATC about poor weather in Basra and was instructed to divert to the Shaibah AFB located east of Basra. On approach by night, the pilot was unable to locate the runway and was forced to abandon the landing procedure for a go around. A second attempt to land and a third approach few minutes later were abandoned as well. During the fourth trial, the captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground when the four engine aircraft hit the ground and bounced. It gain few meters, flew over a wooded area and eventually stalled and crashed 740 yards further, in a desert area. All six crew members were killed while 12 passengers were injured.

Two pilots and one engineer were conducting a one hour test flight from Bournemouth-Hurn Airport. While circling around the airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions but the captain informed ground he was able to reach the airfield. Shortly later, while flying at low height, the twin engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located in Chewton Common, southeast of the airport. All three occupants were killed.
It was reported in the final report that the flight was planned to obtain fuel consumption figures of the Gypsy 70 engine under cruising conditions & Captain R. G. Buck, the pilot, took off from Hurn at 1620LT, his intention being to carry out a flight of one hour duration below the cloud which was then at 1,200 feet. No notification of the flight was made to flying control until the time of take-off & no weather forecast was requested or given. It is presumed that the test was satisfactorily concluded for at 1714LT the Captain requested permission to join the circuit prior to landing. This was given together with weather information & Q.F.E. Weather conditions then began to deteriorate rapidly, cloud base lowering to 800 feet with rain. Capt. Buck gave his position as being over Bournemouth Pier at 1724LT and was instructed not to fly above 1,500 feet owing to the presence of another aircraft at 2,000 feet. Rockets & Very lights were fired & at 1735LT the pilot announced that he could see the airfield. He immediately carried out a left-hand circuit at an estimated height of 200 feet with the undercarriage down, at times going out of view into low cloud & rain. An approach at about 50 feet on runway 170 was attempted but the pilot failed to line-up with the runway & passed over the center of the airfield & disappeared in a right hand circuit. After a similar unsuccessful attempt to land, the controller gave permission for landing on any runway & gave further assistance by lighting sodium funnels. Capt. Buck then asked for a diversion stating " No radio, VHF not working & endurance three hours." At 1804LT he was told the best weather was in the London area & that London Airport had G.C.A & could work him on 5100 kc/s. The suggestion was not acted upon so the controller proposed he should make a further attempt to land at Hurn. Capt. Buck's reply was " Do not know where I am, but will try to find you." At approximately 1808LT the aircraft struck a row of trees & crashed in an adjoining copse. Weather conditions were bad with fine drizzle, a cloud base of 60 feet & visibility down to as little as 200 yards.

The aircraft left London at 0930LT on a flight to Lagos with an ETA at 1400LT in Bordeaux, an intermediate stop. While descending to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided not to land. The captain diverted to Paris-Le Bourget instead Toulouse but was unable to land, because the weather was poor. He elected to divert to Cormeilles-en-Vexin but again, landing was impossible. He finally decided to return to London but while overflying Kent, fuel exhausted and the crew was forced to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed in a field located in Stowting and was destroyed. Four crew members and four passengers were killed.

On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control and came to rest. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.