Region
Europe
code

UK

Crash of a Miles M.57 Aerovan IV in Croydon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Miles M.57 Aerovan
Operator:
North Sea Air Transport
Registration:
G-AISG
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6405
YOM:
1946
Location:
Croydon
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed. The passenger and the pilot were injured while the captain was killed. The crew was performing a cargo flight with a load of 604 racing pigeons.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the total weight of the aircraft exceeded the MTOW of 202 kilos at the time of the accident, which caused the aircraft to stall after rotation.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in RAF Oakington

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Avro 685 York
Operator:
Registration:
MW247
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Oakington - Oakington
MSN:
MW247
YOM:
1946
Location:
Oakington
Cambridgeshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a training sortie in RAF Oakington, the aircraft belly landed and slid for several yards before coming to rest. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to follow the approach and landing check-list, so he forgot to lower the undercarriage, causing the aircraft to land on its belly.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X near RAF Cottesmore: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 619 Wellington X
Operator:
Registration:
NC474
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Cottesmore AFB
Rutland
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie when the aircraft went out of control, nosed down, lost several pieces and partially disintegrated in the air before crashing in a field located 6 miles east of RAF Cottesmore. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. Nevertheless, the loss of control might be the result of poor weather conditions or a structural or a mechanical failure.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII in Heathrow

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIHW
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Valencia - London
MSN:
1357
YOM:
1946
Location:
London-Heathrow
London Metropolis
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed very hard. After being parked on apron, the technician proceeded to a complete inspection which revealed that the fuselage was buckled. The aircraft was declared as damaged beyond economical repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew who failed to follow the published approach procedure and failed to complete a correct flare, causing the aircraft to land hard.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Finningley

Date & Time: May 22, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 619 Wellington X
Operator:
Registration:
PG124
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Finningley AFB (Doncaster)
South Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft lost power during takeoff roll. The captain decided to abandon the takeoff procedure and raised the undercarriage. The aircraft sank on its belly and skidded for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax VI in RAF North Luffenham

Date & Time: May 17, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax VII
Operator:
Registration:
PP373
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
North Luffenham - North Luffenham
Location:
North Luffenham AFB
Rutland
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, clear for rotation, the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft that overran and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Directional control was lost on takeoff due to a failure of the elevator control system caused by a wrong bolt type that was fixed.

Crash of a Vickers 619 Wellington X in RAF Driffield: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 619 Wellington X
Operator:
Registration:
RP520
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Driffield - Driffield
Location:
Driffield AFB
East Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Drieffield, the crew encountered control problems and informed ground that he was attempting an emergency landing. Few seconds later, the aircraft nosed down and crashed in a huge explosion few hundred yards short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and both pilots were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on final approach caused by the failure of several bolts on an elevator.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.65 Consul in Tatsfield: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1947 at 1955 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.65 Consul
Operator:
Milburn Air
Registration:
G-AIOZ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Private
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris - Croydon
MSN:
4335
YOM:
1946
Location:
Tatsfield
Surrey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While approaching Croydon Airport on a flight from Paris-Le Bourget, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in Tatsfield, about 7 miles southeast of Croydon. The aircraft was destroyed and both occupants were killed, among them R. A. Milburn, pilot, co-owner and founder of this company.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide near Greeba

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1947
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHKR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Liverpool – Douglas
MSN:
6824
YOM:
1946
Location:
Greeba
Isle of Man
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Douglas, the crew encountered poor visibility with mist. The captain decided to divert to RAF Jurby when the aircraft hit a hill, overturned and came to rest upside down. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all seven occupants were injured.

Crash of a Vickers 440 Wellington X in Garston: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 440 Wellington X
Operator:
Registration:
NA735
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Bovingdon - Bovingdon
Location:
Bovingdon AFB
Hertfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie from RAF Bovingdon. Enroute, the pilot encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions and was unable to locate the destination airfield. Eventually, he ordered his crew to bail out and attempted to make a solo approach to RAF Bovingdon. Due to fog, he decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground when the airplane hit tree tops and crashed in Garston, east of the airfield. The pilot was killed while all five other crew members were later rescued.
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