Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings at RAF Thorney Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1963
Operator:
Registration:
TG610
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
MSN:
88
YOM:
1949
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at RAF Thorney Island. After touchdown, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to stop within the remaining distance, overran and collided with a building housing the radiotelegraph services of the airbase. None of the crew was injured while one person working in the building was killed.

Crash of a Blackburn B-101 Beverley C.1 off Chichester: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1962
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XL132
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
MSN:
1033
YOM:
1957
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training mission on behalf of the 242nd OCU based at RAF Thorney Island. In flight, an engine caught fire and the crew lost control of the airplane that crashed in the Chichester harbor. Both occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control following an engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings C.1 at RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1962
Operator:
Registration:
TG508
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to RAF Thorney Island, during the last segment, the airplane was caught by downdraft and struck the ground. On impact, the undercarriage were sheared off. The airplane slid for several yards and came to rest in flames. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Suffered downdraft on final approach.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 at Manston: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 23, 1958
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WL633
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island – Manston
YOM:
1953
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from RAF Thorney Island, the crew completed a normal approach to Manston Airport. After touchdown, the airplane deviated from the centerline of the runway to the left. The pilot-in-command elected to correct the deviation but after a run of about 250 meters, the airplane hit a snow wall, ground looped for about 130° and came to rest in flames 30 meters farther with its left wing sheared off. Two cadets were uninjured while three other crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the loss of control upon landing was not determined with certainty.

Crash of a Miles M.60 Marathon at RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA273
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
MSN:
126
YOM:
1950
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at RAF Thorney Island. After touchdown, one of the main landing gear collapsed. The airplane sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed on landing.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 in Falstone: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1957
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WL640
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
YOM:
1953
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 flight out from RAF Thorney Island. While cruising at an altitude of 13,000 feet, the aircraft went out of control, entered a spin and dove into the ground. At an altitude of 1,500 feet, the airplane disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in a field located in Falstone. All five crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
A Board of Inquiry into the accident was held but was unable to determine the cause of the accident. Only those on board knew what had really occurred but our records indicate that the Board, whilst unable to say for certain what had happened, concluded that the mostly likely reason that the aircraft broke up was that it had been overstressed but there was no evidence to say why this had occurred and the Board could only conjecture.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 at RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: May 7, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
RA673
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie at RAF Thorney Island. On final approach, the four engine aircraft was too low and struck a sea wall, causing the right main gear to be sheared off. The airplane crash landed on its belly and came to rest. All seven crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 668 Varsity T.1 at RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF388
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
MSN:
547
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the last segment, the crew did not realize his altitude was too low. The aircraft hit the ground few yards short of runway. On impact, the undercarriage were torn off and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. Both pilots were uninjured while the aircraft was irreparable.

Crash of a Miles M.60 Marathon T.2 at RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Jan 9, 1956
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
XA254
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
106
YOM:
1950
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After landing at RAF Thorney Island, the four engine aircraft encountered difficulties to stop. It overran, went through a concrete wall and came to rest on a beach. All three crew members were injured and the aircraft was destroyed. There were heavy rain falls and strong winds at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Vickers 648 Varsity T.1 near RAF Thorney Island

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WJ904
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Thorney Island - Thorney Island
MSN:
625
YOM:
1952
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission out from RAF Thorney Island. In flight, the crew decided to shut down an engine to simulate an engine failure. Shortly later, the second engine stopped. Unable to maintain a safe altitude, the crew decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew mistakenly shut down the wrong engine in flight, causing the aircraft to lose speed and height. In such conditions, an emergency landing was necessary.