United Kingdom

Operator:

Registration:

PG419

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Schedule:

Swinderby - Swinderby

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The crew was performing a night training sortie. On final approach in low visibility, the aircraft crashed in a field 3,5 miles short of runway threshold. There were no casualties.

Crash of an Avro 689 Tudor 5 in RAF Llandow: 80 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1950 at 1450 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 689 Tudor

Operator:

Fairflight

Registration:

G-AKBY

Flight Phase:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Flight Type:

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Site:

Schedule:

Dublin – Llandow

MSN:

1417

YOM:

1947

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The four engine aircraft was performing a charter flight from Dublin to RAF Llandow, carrying rugby fans who should attend a match between Ireland and Wales for the Five Nations Tournament. On final approach to RAF Llandow, at an altitude of 150 feet, the pilot increased power and the aircraft climbed to 300 feet and then adopted a 35° nose-up attitude. Out of control, it stalled and crashed in a field located 2,500 feet short of runway 28 threshold. All five crew members and 75 passengers were killed. Only three passengers were rescued, placing this tragedy as the most dramatic plane crash up to date.

Probable cause:

The loading conditions of the aircraft which gave a centre of gravity position too far aft and outside the limit in the relevant Certificate of Airworthiness and therefore insufficient elevator control under conditions of low speed and acute instability. Also, the pilot in command, aged 25, did not have sufficient experience, which was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Swinderby

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PG179

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Swinderby - Swinderby

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On final approach to RAF Swinderby, while on a training sortie, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located 2,2 miles short of runway threshold. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Short S.45 Solent off Netley

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Short S.45 Solent

Operator:

Registration:

G-AHIX

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Southampton - Southampton

MSN:

S.1310

YOM:

1946

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The aircraft was carrying 11 people (five engineers from Short Brothers and six BOAC crew members) who were performing a test flight. Upon landing in the Solent, just prior to touchdown, the seaplane was caught by strong winds, hit the water surface and sank off Netley, southeast of Southampton, Hampshire. All 11 occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was lost.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster GR.3 in RAF Saint Eval

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

SW373

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Site:

Schedule:

Saint Eval - Saint Eval

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After touchdown, the crew encountered problem to decelerate. The pilot in command decided to raise the undercarriage to stop more efficiently. The aircraft sank on its belly and slid for several yards before coming to rest. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster GR.3 in RAF Kinloss: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1950

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

SW363

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

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Site:

Schedule:

Kinloss - Kinloss

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Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (236th OCU):
F/Lt Richard Gwynn Williams,
F/Lt Leslie George Harris,
F/Lt Alfred Enos Stephens,
Nav John Cunningham,
Sig Ernest Geal.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported by the crew at the end of the preceding flight that it smelled fuel in the cabin. Also, it was stated that the aircraft was already on fire on takeoff. The assumption that a spark occurred during takeoff and created a fire when contacting with fuel vapors was not ruled out.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Swinderby: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

LN657

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Schedule:

Swinderby - Swinderby

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The crew was engaged in a night training sortie in RAF Swinderby. On final approach, the pilot in command decided to make a go around. He overflew the runway at low height and then started to climb when the aircraft banked left, nosed down and crashed in a wooded area located near the airport. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Tangmere

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1949

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

PF988

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