Zone

Crash of a Percival P.66 Pembroke C.1 at RAF East Fortune

Date & Time: May 26, 1961
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WV737
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
East Fortune - Leuchars
MSN:
37
YOM:
1956
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The Pembroke took off from East Fortune to proceed to RAF Leuchars on 26th of May 1961 after flying from a NATO meeting in Paris with Air Vice Marshall R.B. Thompson and Air Vice Marshall R.H. Wright both men had just been set down at East Fortune. Soon after take off at around 2,000 feet that problem started, with North Berwick in view, only a short distance from the airfield, the port engine caught fire and blew up. The pilot, Flt Lt Munn, look out of the cockpit and found that the engine cowling and parts of the engine were missing and the engine was still burning. The pilot decided to crash land as soon as possible and with that he turned the aircraft hard to port to avoid crossing the coast and getting into even more danger. While doing this he closed both throttles (closing the starboard throttle by mistake) and started a rapid descent. The aircraft crash landed in a corn field close to Newhouse farm (near North Berwick) and only minor injuries were received by the pilot and copilot. Five minutes after leaving the aircraft the port inboard fuel tank exploded and the entire fuselage was gutted.
Source: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=145236
Probable cause:
Prime cause of the accident was Engine failure. This failure was caused by a hydraulic lock which took place only a short time before the failure. This was not found on the ground prior to take off due to a failure by the Pilot to comply with instructions in the relevant Aircraft Procedures. Contributory Hydraulic lock in No. 6 cylinder caused the break up in flight of the port engine.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EG192
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Leuchars on a training mission over the North Sea, on behalf of the General Reconnaissance School. While flying about 144 km east of Dundee, radar contact was lost with the aircraft that crashed into the sea. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.

Crash of a Vickers 474 Warwick V in RAF Leuchars: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PN749
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission. While completing an umpteenth approach, the aircraft banked left, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion on a road leading to the airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all five crew members were killed.
Crew (6th OTU):
F/Sgt N. F. Bates, pilot,
W/O J. A. Willmott, pilot,
F/Sgt S. V. Titchener, navigator,
F/Sgt G. R. Green, wireless operator,
W/O J. P. Magee, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
The loss of control on approach was attributed to the failure of the left engine.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator VIII in Årestrup: 11 killed

Date & Time: Apr 20, 1945 at 2340 LT
Operator:
Registration:
KH410
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Leuchars at 2011LT on a patrol mission over Kattegat, taking part to the battle for freedom of Denmark. To avoid German radars, the captain decided to overfly Denmark at low height. In low visibility due to the night, the bomber hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located in Årestrup. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew (206th Squadron):
Lt Cdr N. Guilonard, pilot,
P/O W. T. H. Gale, flight engineer,
F/O A. J. Harding, navigator,
W/O G. H. Topcliffe, navigator,
F/Lt P. S. L. Laycock, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt F. R. Orritt, wireless operator and air gunner,
W/O W. W. Spencer, wireless operator and air gunner,
W/O T. K. Theaker, wireless operator and air gunner,
W/O G. C. K. Long, air gunner,
W/O K. Emery, air gunner,
F/O A. R. T. Smith.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator near Seljord: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1944 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-52196
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
913
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered poor weather and icing conditions. While all engines and both wings were contaminated by ice, the aircraft was unable to maintain the prescribed altitude and hit the slope of Mt Skorve located in the region of Seljord. All ten crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Icing.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87CF Liberator Express near Alingsås: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1944 at 0030 LT
Operator:
Registration:
NC18618
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Leuchars – Stockholm
MSN:
99
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was bearing the civil registration NC18618 but was in fact registered 43-30619. This was some sort of secret operation. It seems that the plane was a part of Operation Carpetbagger, which was a special program to deliver supplies to resistance groups in enemy-occupied countries, to deliver personnel to the field, and occasionally to bring back personnel from the field. It is believed that this plane was being used to fly back to the UK Norwegian aircrew trainees and American internees from Sweden. En route to Stockholm-Bromma and while flying over Sweden, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to fog. The group of five airplanes decided to divert to Göteborg Airport when flying at an altitude of some 300 feet, the four engine aircraft hit a hill located near Alingsås, some 50 km northeast of Göteborg. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Truett K. Bullock, pilot,
1st Lt Paul R. Buchanan,
T/Sgt Donald J. Johnston, radio operator,
Cpt Colin T. Campbell, navigator,
Cpt Earl K. North,
T/Sgt Oakley J. Ragland, radio operator.
Source & photo:
http://www.forcedlandingcollection.se/USAAF/USAAF139-441020-C87.html
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1943_2.html
Final Report:

Crash of a Lockheed 18 LodeStar near Lidköping: 11 killed

Date & Time: Aug 29, 1944 at 0002 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGIH
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Stockholm - Leuchars
MSN:
2491
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was performing a flight from Stockholm to RAF Leuchars on behalf of the Norwegian government. En route, the crew encountered technical problems with the radio systems and elected to return to Bromma Airport. But because of bad weather, the crew eventually diverted to Göteborg-Torslanda Airport or Såtenäs Air Force Base. While cruising by night and approaching Lidköping, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Kinnekulle (300 metres high) located northeast of Lidköping and was destroyed. Four passengers were rescued while 11 other occupants including all three crew members were killed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Manchester

Date & Time: May 25, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6176
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leuchars - Manchester
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. No casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar off RAF Leuchars: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1943 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGDE
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Stockholm - Leuchars
MSN:
2086
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Stockholm-Bromma Airport, the twin engine aircraft was descending to RAF Leuchars in marginal weather and icing conditions. By night, while cruising at a height of 6,000 feet, the aircraft went out of control and dove into the sea some 24 km off the Airbase. SAR operations were quickly deployed on site but no trace of the aircraft nor the 10 occupants was found.
Probable cause:
Control was lost on approach to RAF Leuchars due to excessive ice accumulation on wings surface and fuselage while the aircraft was flying in icing conditions.

Crash of a Bristol 152 Beaufort I near Tingwall: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4514
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
8375
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Leuchars on an operation off the Norwegian coast. Approaching the target area, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to return to base. Doing so, the airplane went through an area of severe icing when the engines got iced. It crashed near Tingwall and was destroyed. Three crew members were killed and a fourth was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Norman Arthur Blanchflower, observer, †
P/O Tom Thornley Braithwaite Stoker, pilot, †
Sgt Arthur James Woolsey, wireless operator, †
Sgt W. H. Bond, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Icing conditions.