Region
Europe
code

UK

Ground fire of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Prestwick

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1949
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
G-AKSF
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6490
YOM:
1940
Location:
Prestwick
Ayrshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the engine start-up, a fire erupted. The pilot, sole on board, was able to evacuate the cabin before the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-65-BN Superfortress in Wisbech

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-62191
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
11668
YOM:
1944
Location:
Wisbech
Cambridgeshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation. All 12 crew members decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft crashed in a field located two miles west of Wisbech and was destroyed. All 12 crew members were unhurt.

Crash of an Avro 694 Lincoln B.2 near RAF Waddington: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Avro 694 Lincoln
Operator:
Registration:
RF471
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Waddington AFB
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from RAF Waddington, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 4 miles northwest of the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all seven crew members of the 61st Squadron were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the pilot in command suffered a loss of situational awareness or suffered an optical illusion was not ruled out.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.65 Consul in Chiswick

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.65 Consul
Operator:
Registration:
G-AJGD
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
5120
YOM:
1947
Location:
Chiswick
London Metropolis
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was performing an on demand flight from Croydon Airport. While cruising southwest of the London area, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and decided to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located in Dukes Meadows, south of Chiswick. While all three occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Hullavington

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 619 Wellington X
Operator:
Registration:
PG265
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Hullavington AFB
Wiltshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing, the aircraft went out of control, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Cowes

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1949
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Somerton Airways
Registration:
G-AGPI
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Southampton – Cowes
MSN:
6885
YOM:
1945
Location:
Cowes
Isle of Wight
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Cowes Airfield, the twin engine aircraft overshot, hit tree tops and the roof of a house before crashing in a garden. The aircraft was written off and all seven occupants were slightly injured.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in RAF Mildenhall

Date & Time: May 26, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
PA383
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Mildenhall AFB
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Belly landed and damaged beyond repair. No casualties.

Ground accident of a Douglas C-47B-40-DK Dakota C.4 in RAF North Luffenham

Date & Time: May 23, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN551
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16830/33578
YOM:
1945
Location:
North Luffenham AFB
Rutland
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While holding for takeoff, the Dakota registered KN551 was hit by another RAF Dakota registered KJ810. The accident occurred in unclear circumstances and there were no injuries. While KJ810 was repaired, KN551 was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 31 off Isle of Portland: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1949 at 1110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 170 Freighter
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIFF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bristol - Bristol
MSN:
12766
YOM:
1946
Location:
Isle of Portland
Dorset
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew consisting of pilots and engineers of the Bristol Aeroplane Company left Bristol-Filton Airport at 1003LT for a test flight to obtain engine and propeller datas in specific flight conditions. While cruising off the Isle of Portland, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and dove into The Channel. Some debris were found 26 km off the Portland's lighthouse and all seven crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by a structural failure in flight. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the structural failure.

Crash of a Percival Q.6 Petrel in Pwllheli

Date & Time: May 6, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Percival Q.6 Petrel
Operator:
Registration:
G-AFIX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
Q.31
YOM:
1938
Location:
Pwllheli
Gwynedd
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was carrying three passengers and a pilot from Blackpool and crashed in unknown circumstances in an open field located in Broom Hall, about three miles northeast of Pwllheli. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all four occupants were injured.
Subscribe to United Kingdom