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Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Byron Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 18, 1932 at 1430 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VH-UPM
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sydney – Lismore – Brisbane
MSN:
2052
YOM:
1930
Location:
Byron Bay
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising at a height of 100 feet over the Burringbar Mountain Range, the pilot encountered strong winds and turbulences. He initiated a turn to the right when the left wing and the rudder detached. Out of control, the aircraft crashed and was destroyed. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Ralph Virtue, pilot.
Passengers:
Les Holden,
Dr. George R. Hamilton.
Probable cause:
Strong drafts exceeded the design of the left wing and the rudder that failed in flight.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth off Tohaku

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1932
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Registration:
J-BBAA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Matsue – Osaka
MSN:
2221
YOM:
1932
Location:
Tohaku
Chūgoku
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route from Matsue to Osaka, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea few dozen metres off Tohaku, Tottori prefecture. The pilot was rescued and the aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Devil's Jump: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1932 at 1745 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Brian Lewis & Company
Registration:
G-ABDH
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Heston – Hamble
MSN:
2081
YOM:
1930
Location:
Hindhead
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Heston to Hamble, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in Devil's Jump, near Hindhead. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Bruce Bossom, pilot.
Passengers:
Emily Bossom (pilot's mother),
Count Otto Zierbach-Fürsteneau (aka Prince Otto Erbach).
Probable cause:
The aircraft broke up in mid-air and crashed out of control. A wing detached and was later recovered in Thursley. This could suggest the aircraft encountered turbulences and unfavorable conditions that caused the loss of control.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth off Hunstanton

Date & Time: May 26, 1932
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Eastern Air Transport (UK)
Registration:
G-AAXL
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Skegness – Hunstanton
MSN:
2010
YOM:
1930
Location:
Hunstanton
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Hunstanton on a taxi flight from Skegness, the pilot encountered engine problems. He attempted an emergency landing on a sand bar located about 8 km from Hunstanton. Both occupants escaped uninjured and later set the wreckage on fire to attract rescuers. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were rescued by the crew of the fishing boat named 'Lizzie Annie'.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a connecting rod malfunction.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth near Échenevex: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 2, 1932
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Ferdinand Fluckiger
Registration:
CH-270
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Geneva – Courtelary
MSN:
2138
YOM:
1931
Location:
Échenevex
Ain
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Geneva-Cointrin Airport, bound for Courtelary, Bern, the single engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on the slope of Mt Colomby de Gex (1,688 metres high) located near Échenevex. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Heston

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1932
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Registration:
G-AAYK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Positioning
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Croydon - Heston
MSN:
2034
YOM:
1930
Location:
Heston
Middlesex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a positioning flight from Croydon to Heston. Upon landing, the airplane veered off runway and came to rest. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Ottawa: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1932
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Registration:
G-CYUT
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
218
YOM:
1930
Location:
Ottawa-Macdonald-Cartier
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Aircraft flight hours:
55
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a test flight and was practicing stalls when a wing failed. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. The pilot A. Anderson was killed while the copilot A. L. James was seriously injured. Built in 1930, the aircraft totalized 55h25 flying hours. The test mission was completed on behalf of the CGAO.
Probable cause:
Wing failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Lucknow

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1932
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Bhaba Deb Mukerjee
Registration:
VT-ABJ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2032
YOM:
1930
Location:
Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was taking part to the Viceroy’s Cup Race. While approaching Lucknow, the airplane struck a pylon and crashed. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Ruvo di Puglia

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1932
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Leslie S. Hamilton
Registration:
G-AAXW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
2027
YOM:
1930
Location:
Ruvo di Puglia
Apulia
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Brothers Leslie and Kenneth Hamilton were engaged in a flight from England to Australia. The crew departed Lympne Airport on February 18 bound for the south. While overflying Apulia, weather conditions worsened and the visibility was poor due to fog. The aircraft impacted a hill and was damaged beyond repair. Both occupants were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth in Gandesa: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1932
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
A. Bischoff
Registration:
CH-273
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
2192
YOM:
1931
Location:
Gandesa
Catalonia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. The single engine airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Gandesa and was destroyed. Both occupants, the Swiss pilot Albert Klugg and his wife were killed.
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