Aston Down AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after takeoff from RAF Aston Down, while climbing, the aircraft suffered a simultaneous failure of all four engines. The crew, who was completing a training mission, attempted to make an emergency landing but the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located in Chalford, some 1,3 mile north of the airfield. Both crewmen were killed.
Crew (428th Squadron):
S/L Reggie Heber Thomas, pilot,
F/Sgt Ronald Lester Gray, flight engineer.

Probable cause:

The crew did not prepare the flight properly and did not follow the pre-departure checklist. On rotation, the power switches have been at OFF position, causing all four engines to stop.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Aston Down: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1106

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Aston Down - Aston Down

MSN:

8389

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a solo training flight at RAF Aston Down. While on a night approach, the airplane was too low, collided with a wall and crashed short of runway, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Crew:
Sgt Derrick Edward O'Flaherty, pilot.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth at RAF Aston Down

Date & Time: May 10, 1941

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth

Operator:

Registration:

BK867

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

White Waltham - Aston Down

MSN:

7200

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane was on a delivery flight from RAF White Waltham to RAF Aston Down when it crashed upon landing. All three crew members escaped uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth at RAF Hawarden

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1940

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

Operator:

Registration:

AW135

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Aston Down - Hawarden

MSN:

1900

YOM:

1931

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

For unknown reasons, the single engine aircraft overshot on landing and came to rest. It was damaged beyond repair and the pilot was uninjured.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Aston Down: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 10, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L6799

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Aston Down - Aston Down

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Aston Down when the aircraft collided with an RAF Spitfire and crashed. Both pilots were killed as well as the pilot on board the Spitfire.
Crew:
P/O George Gordon Crawford, pilot,
Sgt John Martin Oxtoby, pilot.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I at RAF Aston Down: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1105

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Aston Down - Aston Down

MSN:

8388

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The pilot was completing a post maintenance test flight out from RAF Aston Down. On final approach, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a field short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot P/O Eric Wilfred Bell was killed.

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

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1940

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth

Operator:

Registration:

G-ABSO

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Hendon – Aston Down

MSN:

2217

YOM:

1932

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from RAF Hendon to RAF Aston Down on behalf of the 24th Squadron. En route, the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing in a field located in Tewkesbury. Both occupants escaped unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley III at RAF Aston Down

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1939 at 1300 LT

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley

Operator:

Registration:

K8943

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Ferry

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1396

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

At 1300LT, near completion of a ferry flight to RAF Aston Down, the pilot was about to land when he realized that a RAF Blenheim was parked at the landing area. In order to avoid a collision, he held off until he was clear of this obstruction but was then forced to turn sharply away from the perimeter wall. In doing so, the undercarriage collapsed and the Whitley was damaged beyond repair. All three crewmen were unhurt.
Crew:
Sgt R. T. Langton +2.

Source: W. R. Chorley.