Benson AFB | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Benson. On final approach, the pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was too low when the airplane struck the ground and crashed in an open field. The undercarriage were partially torn off as well a part of the left wing. All five crew members escaped uninjured.

Probable cause:

Too low approach on part of the flying crew.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster GR.1 in RAF Benson: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

RA803

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Benson - Benson

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The crew was performing a local training sortie at RAF Benson. During the final approach completed in marginal weather conditions, the crew did not realize that his altitude was too low when the airplane hit the ground and crashed few hundred yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

The accident was the result of negligence on part of the flying crew who neglected published procedures and continued the approach below the minimum safe altitude.

Crash of a Vickers 607 Valetta C.1 in RAF Benson: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 19, 1952

Type of aircraft:

Vickers Valetta

Operator:

Registration:

VX559

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Benson - Benson

YOM:

1950

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The crew was involved in a local training sortie at RAF Benson. Shortly after takeoff from runway 01, while in initial climb by night and poor weather conditions, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located two miles north of the airfield. All three crew members were killed. At the time of the accident, the weather conditions were considered as marginal with low clouds and rain falls.

Probable cause:

It is reported that the loss of control was caused by a double engine failure due to a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 near RAF Benson

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1951

Type of aircraft:

Avro 694 Lincoln

Operator:

Registration:

SX991

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Benson - Benson

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Following an uneventful aerial photography and surveillance mission, the crew was returning to his base in Benson, south Oxfordshire. On final approach by night, the pilot-in-command completed two successive turns to the left and then to the right when the aircraft hit the ground and crashed in a field located about 4 miles east of the airfield. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all six crew members were unhurt.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the pilot-in-command did not have a sufficient experience with night missions and failed to consult his altimeters while approaching the airbase. Doing so, he did not realize the aircraft lost fairly altitude during the two last turns. It is also reported that the Blind Approach Beam System (BABS) was faulty, which was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Middelburg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1941 at 1227 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

V5376

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Benson - Benson

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The airplane departed RAF Benson on an anti-shipping mission. Approaching the Dutch coast, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed near Middelburg. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O James Kevin Flynn, pilot,
F/O William Clifford Hall, pilot,
F/Sgt Robert Arthur Stephens, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7 Boston at RAF Benson

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

AX849

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

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After landing at RAF Benson in poor weather conditions, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I into the Celtic Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

N5073

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Benson - Bude

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The crew was performing a training flight from Benson to Bude. The twin engine aircraft departed RAF Benson at 0930LT. En route, the pilot decided to continue over the Celtic Sea for about 80 km before returning to his base via Trevose Head. But the aircraft disappeared and failed to arrive in Bude. SAR operations did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the five crewmen.
Crew (63rd Squadron):
P/O Charles Robey Coventry, pilot,
P/O Angus Cameron, observer,
Sgt Alvin Gordon Gibson,
AC2 Hugh Oliver Wilson Gormlay,
AC2 James Crompton Buckland.