Country
Operator Image

Crash of a De Havilland DH.34 in Ivinghoe Beacon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 14, 1923 at 1805 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EBBS
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Croydon - Manchester
MSN:
29
YOM:
1922
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Captain / Total flying hours:
755
Circumstances:
The flight was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Croydon to Manchester. Whilst flying over Buckinghamshire, a storm was encountered. Witnesses stated that an engine stopped, but was then restarted. It appeared to them that an emergency landing was going to be made at Ford End, Ivinghoe, when the aircraft dived to the ground and crashed at Ivinghoe Beacon. The wreckage came to rest upside down, with both crew and all three passengers being killed. One witness reported hearing a violent explosion, but was not sure whether this was before the aircraft crashed or as a result of the crash. Villagers extricated the victims from the wreckage. The deceased were taken to Ivinghoe Town Hall pending an inquest by the coroner. As a result of the crash, Daimler Airway temporarily suspended their service between Croydon and Manchester, due to having no aircraft to operate it. The inquest opened on 17 September at Ivinghoe Town Hall. Evidence was given that the pilot was experienced, having flown for 755 hours, and that the aircraft was airworthy on departure from Croydon. It was carrying an adequate supply of fuel, having departed Croydon with 73 imperial gallons (330 l) of fuel against an estimated consumption of around 50 imperial gallons (230 l). The aircraft could carry eight passengers, but as only three were on board 400 pounds (180 kg) of ballast was carried, as well as a quantity of mail. Witnesses reported that the aircraft stalled before crashing.
Probable cause:
Air Ministry announced that as a result of the investigation into the circumstances of the accident to aircraft G-EBBS, the Inspector of Accidents has arrived at the following conclusions:
a) That the accident was due to an error of judgment on the part of the pilot, causing the aeroplane to lose flying speed near the ground.
b) That when the accident occurred the pilot was attempting to make a landing on account of the bad weather conditions.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.34 in Croydon

Date & Time: Aug 30, 1923
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EBBQ
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Croydon - Brussels
MSN:
27
YOM:
1922
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Croydon Airport, en route to Brussels. There were no casualties. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.34 in Harrow Weald

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1922
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EBBU
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
31
YOM:
1922
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Croydon Airport, the crew encountered technical problems and elected to make an emergency landing. The aircraft impacted trees and crashed in a field. All 10 occupants evacuated safely and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.18A in Thieuloy-Saint-Antoine: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1922 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EAWO
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Croydon - Paris
MSN:
DH.18/04
YOM:
1921
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a regular schedule flight from Paris-Le Bourget to Croydon with three passengers and a crew of two on board. While cruising at a height of 500 feet in foggy conditions, the aircraft collided with a De Havilland DH.18A operated by Daimler Airway and registered G-EAWO. It appears that the DH.18 hit the upper left wing of the Farman which detached. Both aircraft crashed in an open field (a piece of wing crashed on the roof of a house) and were destroyed. While the British pilot was seriously injured, all other six occupants were killed. The only survivor died from his injuries few hours later. The collision occurred in Thieuloy-Saint-Antoine, some four km south of Grandvilliers and 27 km north of Beauvais, Oise. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced due to fog. First collision in commercial aviation history.
Crew:
Robin E. Duke, pilot
Edward Hesterman, steward.
Probable cause:
Both crews were apparently trying to maintain visual contact with the ground while flying under a low overcast, and must have simply failed to see each other in time to prevent the accident. It was also reported that G-EAWO had been slightly to the left of the proper course, maybe due to the inexperience of the pilot on this line. Priority rules should be the same in aviation as on the road but in the present case, experts confirmed these rules were not the same in UK and France. So new priority rules will come into force following this tragic event.