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Crash of an Avro 652 Anson XI in RAF Kenley

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1951
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PH768
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kenley - Kenley
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the pilot-in-command encountered difficulties to slow down so he decided to raise the undercarriage. The aircraft sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. While the airplane was damaged beyond repair, the crew was unhurt.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the brakes failed after landing.

Crash of an Avro 652A Anson XI in RAF Kenley

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PH840
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kenley - Kenley
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach, the pilot in command decided to perform a go around. During initial climb, an engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80A Puss Moth at RAF Kenley

Date & Time: Sep 4, 1941 at 1255 LT
Operator:
Registration:
G-AAVB
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
London-Gatwick - Kenley
MSN:
2003
YOM:
1930
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a flight from London-Gatwick, the single engine airplane crashed upon landing at RAF Kenley and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot, sole on board, was uninjured.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC near RAF Kenley

Date & Time: Sep 3, 1941 at 0215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z8815
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Snaith - Snaith
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Snaith at 2000LT on September 2 on an operation to Frankfurt. While returning to base the following night, it crashed in unknown circumstances near RAF Kenley. All six crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Crew:
Sgt Dickenson +5.

Crash of a Dornier DO.17Z-2 near RAF Kenley

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1940 at 1322 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F1+DT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Pontoise - Pontoise
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Pontoise-Cormeilles-en-Vexin Airport to attack the RAF Kenley, Surrey. Approaching the target at low height, it was shot down by the British Flak and crashed near the airfield. Four crew members bailed out and the captain completed an emergency landing in a field.
Crew:
Oblt Rudolf Lamberty,
Hptm Gustav Peter,
Obfw Valentin Geier,
Fw Hugo Eberhard +1.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the British Flak.

Crash of a Dornier DO.17Z-2 near RAF Kenley: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1940 at 1320 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F1+HT
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pontoise - Pontoise
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Pontoise-Cormeilles-en-Vexin Airport to attack the RAF Kenley, Surrey. Approaching the target at low height, it was shot down by the British Flak and crashed near the airfield. All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Fw Johannes Petersen, pilot,
Oblt Hans-Siegfried Ahrends, observer,
Uffz Karl Greulich, radio operator,
Fw Hans Dietz, air gunner,
Oberst Otto Sommer.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the British Flak.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Sliders Farm: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1936 at 1807 LT
Operator:
Registration:
G-ADLP
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kenley – Brighton
MSN:
2111
YOM:
1930
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On the day of the fatal crash, Air Taxis Ltd had not authorized the flight, although in the past they had allowed Tonge to use the Puss Moth for his own pleasure at weekends if it wasn't required for business. The passenger, Scrase, was apparently only slightly acquainted with the pilot - which didn't stop them drinking in a pub together through the afternoon. At 16.30 the pair arrived at the hangar and Scrase was installed in the plane - Tonge then asked the mechanic if he could tell him the compass course to Brighton. They took off, but G-ADLP landed a few minutes later at Kenley where the pilot sought out a friend and, together with his passenger, they retired to a pub for over an hour. It was reported that Tonge sank two pints in that time, and Scrase three. At 17.55 hours the pilot and passenger returned to the machine and took off to continue their journey to Brighton, but before leaving the vicinity of Kenley, the pilot made several steep dives at the aerodrome buildings. The Puss Moth then departed at a height of 1500 feet. About ten minutes later the aeroplane was seen flying over Ashdown Forest at around 600 feet - it descended and circled around an open space at Wych Cross, then headed south. After two miles G-ADLP was then seen to circle a football field twice, and head south again at 500 feet. A minute later the aircraft descended towards a field which, however, was obstructed by power cables - at a height of 30 feet, the engine was 'opened up' and the Puss Moth climbed away steeply to 1000 feet. It then appeared to commence a turn whilst still climbing, and it immediately fell into a spin which continued until the aircraft plunged into some trees. The first person to reach the scene found the pilot dead with extensive head injuries. The passenger was laid over the pilot's shoulder and, in a semi conscious condition, he uttered; "1,500 feet. 1,000 feet, we're falling: Can't you do something man! 500 feet Oh God!". There was a very pronounced smell of alcohol in the cabin, and particularly from the passenger's breath.
Source:
http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=892.0;wap2
Probable cause:
The Inquiry by the Air Ministry came to three opinions in the case:
a) That the pilot committed an error of judgement in allowing his aircraft to stall and spin - it was also possible that the passenger (whose safety belt wasn't fastened) had interfered with the pilot in such a manner as to prevent Tonge having full use of the controls.
b) That the pilot, for some reason, had tried to find a place to land but none of the grounds he approached were suitable.
c) That both Tonge and Scrace were to a certain extent under the influence of alcohol.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60M Gipsy Moth at RAF Kenley: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1931
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K1210
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kenley - Kenley
MSN:
1522
YOM:
1930
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Kenley on a local training flight. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the airplane collided with a RAF Bristol Bulldog registered K1677. While the Bulldog's pilot bailed out and survived, both crew members on board the Moth were killed.
Crew:
Flt Lt Ernest V. S. Lacey,
P/O John Edward Shrimpton.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.9A at RAF Kenley: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1926
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
J7310
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kenley - Kenley
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training mission at RAF Kenley, Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the pilot made a left turn when the aircraft stalled and crashed. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Felix St. John Woollard,
F/O Frederick Laing Collison.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.4 at RAF Kenley: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1926 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AS-6392
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Kenley, while climbing, the engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed into trees, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were seriously injured. The pilot died from his injuries five days later. The aircraft was based at RAF Kenley and operated on behalf of the US Embassy in London.
Crew:
Maj Clarence Leonard Tinker.
Passenger:
Cdr Robert Andrew Burg. †
Probable cause:
Engine failure.