Blackburn B-26 Botha | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

During the takeoff roll at RAF Squires Gate, a tyre burst. The pilot lost control of the airplane that skidded on runway and lost its undercarriage before coming to rest. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after a tyre burst during the takeoff roll.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I at RAF Castle Kennedy

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6173

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

7864/20

YOM:

1940

Location:

Castle Kennedy AFB

Dumfries and Galloway

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to RAF Castle Kennedy, the airplane collided with a Fairey Battle registered P6644 and crashed short of runway. All four crew members escaped with various injuries.
Crew:
Sgt W. Ostrowski +3.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I off RAF Evanton

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6189

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Evanton - Evanton

MSN:

7864/36

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a training sortie out of RAF Evanton. While returning to base, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed into the Cromarty Firth. All four crew members were rescued.
Crew:
Lac R. H. B. Searle +3.

Probable cause:

Engine failure on approach to base.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I on Mt Tal-y-Fan: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6318

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Squires Gate - Squires Gate

MSN:

7870/15

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Squires Gate on a navigation exercise. En route, the twin engine airplane entered a cloudy area when it impacted the northeast slope of Mt Tal-y-Fan located 3 km northwest of Rowen. The wreckage and all five dead bodies were found a day later.
Crew (3rd School of General Reconnaissance):
W/O Herford Linton Pendal, pilot,
Sgt Robert Wilmore Patrick, navigator,
Sgt John Bernard Wood, navigator,
AC1 Ronald Ibbetson, wireless operator,
AC1 Andrew Smyth, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I off Abbey Head: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6233

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

7866/30

YOM:

1940

Location:

Abbey Head

Dumfries and Galloway

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane crashed for unknown reasons into the sea some 5 km southwest of Abbey Head. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Brian Lundius Garlick,
Lac Donald Peter Alan Hunt,
Cpl Robert Edwin Springer,
Lac William Richard James Stubbs,
Lac Robert John Wright.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I off Brough: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6355

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Demonstration

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Brough - Brough

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot, sole on board, was performing a demo flight at the Blackburn Aircraft facilities based at Brough Airfield. While completing a low pass, the twin engine airplane clipped the roof of a hangar, stalled and crashed into the Humber River. The pilot was killed.
Crew:
P/O James Francis Haley, pilot.

Probable cause:

Crew error.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha on Mt Moelwynion

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

W5142

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

3291/25

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising over the Snowdonia area, the airplane stalled and crashed on Mt Moelwynion. All five crew members were rescued.
Crew:
F/Sgt J. M. Foster,
F/Sgt L. Moss,
Sgt L. H. Ganner,
Sgt J. Haig,
Sgt J. A. Rawlinson.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I at RAF Dishforth

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6289

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

7868/36

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed while taking off from RAF Dishforth. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Engine failure at takeoff.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I in Lisburn

Date & Time: Jul 16, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6432

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following a fuel mishandling in flight, both engines failed. The pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in Lisburn and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure in flight following a fuel mishandling.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I in Hawling

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Blackburn B-26 Botha

Operator:

Registration:

L6436

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane suffered a double engine failure in flight and crash landed in an open field in Hawling. It lost its undercarriage and collided with a hedge. There were no casualties.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure in flight.