Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

NZ280

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Canterbury Regional Council

Schedule:

Birdlings Flat - Wigram

MSN:

0502

YOM:

1940

Location:

Birdlings Flat

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine airplane departed Birdlings Flat at 1355LT on a return flight to Wigram AFB. Ten minutes after departure, while cruising at an altitude of 900 feet in poor weather conditions (rain falls and low clouds), the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located in the Gebbies Valley, south of Christchurch. All four occupants were killed.
Crew (1st SFTS):
P/O Alan Leslie Marshall, pilot and instructor,
LAC Ronald Stephen Brooker, pilot,
LAC Brian Patrick Fitzgerald, pilot,
LAC William Ian Lindsay, pilot.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at RAF Cranwell: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1941 at 1130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

T1052

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Cranwell - Cranwell

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The pilot departed RAF Cranwell on a local solo training flight. While circling in the vicinity of the airbase, the airplane collided with a Spitfire registered AD291. The pilot of the Oxford attempted to reach RAF Cranwell for an emergency landing but the aircraft crashed on final approach and was destroyed. The pilot was killed. The Spitfire also crashed and its pilot was killed.
Crew:
LAC Ernest Aubrey Griffin, pilot.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II in Calgary: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

AS365

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Calgary - Calgary

MSN:

3643

YOM:

1941

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The pilot was completing his first solo training sortie at Calgary Airport. He attempted to land with only one wheel in locked down position when, on approach, the airplane stalled and crashed. The pilot LAC Ernest Cecil Thomson was killed.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I near Upper Hutt: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NZ1245

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Greater Wellington Regional Council

Schedule:

Ohakea - Ohakea

MSN:

2670

YOM:

1940

Location:

Upper Hutt

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a training mission on behalf of the 3rd Army Training Unit and departed Ohakea AFB at 1045LT. While cruising in low visibility due to poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of a mountain located between Upper Hutt and Waikanae, northeast of Wellington. As the crew failed to announce their position at the reporting point at 1315LT, SAR operations were initiated, but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was found by a hunter on April 10, 1943.
Crew (3rd SFTS):
LAC Charles William Baker,
LAC Winston Stanley Cannel.
Source: http://www.parawaitc.org.nz/Other/Oxford1245.pdf

Probable cause:

The Court concluded its inquiry with the following findings:
1) From the evidence available, the Court can only assume that the loss of Oxford NZ1245 is attributable mainly to the bad weather conditions prevailing in part of the route to be flown.
2) The Court is of the opinion that the aircraft and equipment was in serviceable condition prior to the exercise.
3) The weather conditions immediately prior to setting out on the exercise were such that the Flight Commander was justified in authorizing the flight.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford at Woodbourne AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NZ1226

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Woodbourne AFB (Blenheim)

Schedule:

Woodbourne - Woodbourne

MSN:

2606

YOM:

1940

Location:

Marlborough District Council

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The pilot was engaged in a night training flight. Shortly after take off from Woodbourne Airport, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed five km from the airfield, bursting into flames. The pilot was killed.
Crew (2nd SFTS):
LAC Felix Ulenberg, pilot.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I on Mt Gatland's Fell: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AT478

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

3714

YOM:

1941

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The twin engine airplane departed RAF Millom on a transit flight with three crew members on board. While cruising in bad weather conditions, it impacted the slope of Mt Gatland's Fell located in the Lake District National Park. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Richard Anthony Leslie White, pilot,
LAC Stanley Harold Bingham, observer,
LAC Eric Edward Claridge, observer.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford near Longnor: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1941 at 1205 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V3626

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Spitalgate - Spitalgate

MSN:

3168

YOM:

1941

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Circumstances:

The pilot was performing a solo training flight out from RAF Spitalgate. En route, he lost his orientation due to poor weather conditions. Probably to determine his position, he decided to reduce his altitude when the airplane impacted the ground and crashed in Fawside Edge, near Longnor. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and the pilot was killed.
Crew (12th SFTS):
LAC Raymond Henry Wattie Dix, pilot.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I on Mt Caw Fell: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1941 at 0955 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AT486

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Millom - Millom

MSN:

3722

YOM:

1941

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a cross country navigation exercise and departed RAF Millom in the morning. While flying in clouds, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient when the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Caw Fell located 8 km southeast of Ennerdale Bridge. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Charles-André Des Baillets, pilot,
LAC Henry Hodgkinson, observer.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I at Woodbourne AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Oct 22, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

NZ1263

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Woodbourne AFB (Blenheim)

Schedule:

Woodbourne - Woodbourne

MSN:

574

YOM:

1940

Location:

Marlborough District Council

Country:

Region: