Instone Air Line | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Few minutes after takeoff from Croydon, the pilot encountered technical problems and decided to make an emergency landing in Oxted, near Caterham, Surrey. While all occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Exact date of the occurrence remains unknown. The accident occurred between 1st and 31st of August 1922.

Probable cause:

Technical failure.

Crash of a BAT F.K.26 in Croydon

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1922

Type of aircraft:

BAT F.K.26

Operator:

Registration:

G-EAPK

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Paris – Croydon

MSN:

FK.26/32

YOM:

1920

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Circumstances:

Crashed on approach to Croydon Airport. There were no casualties.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.18 in Airgueil

Date & Time: May 13, 1921

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.18

Operator:

Registration:

G-EAUF

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Paris – Croydon

MSN:

YOM:

1920

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Circumstances:

The pilot was attempting to make a forced landing and the aircraft ended up on its back, completely wrecked near the edge of a large field 1,5 km north of Argueil. Marks on the ground and the nature of the country indicate that the pilot stalled the machine in attempting to land across a sunken road with insufficient flying speed. The pilot stated that his left wing dropped and he could not get it up again. From marks on the ground, the wing had apparently not touched the ground until the undercarriage collapsed, after which the machine turned over onto its back. The pilot was Captain H. W. Chataway.