Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Just after takeoff from Sverdlovsk-Koltsovo Airport, while climbing, the left engine failed. The pilot made an emergency landing in a bog near the airport. While all five crew members were uninjured, the airplane was considered as damaged beyond repair as no spare parts were available.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle in Russia: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 27, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle

Operator:

Registration:

P1645

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Delivery

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Circumstances:

While on a delivery flight from UK to Russia, the airplane was shot down by a German fighter and crashed somewhere in Russia. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt F. F Ilchenko, pilot +3.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle I near RAF High Ercall

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle

Operator:

Registration:

P1447

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Shawbury - Shawbury

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a training exercise out from RAF Shawbury. En route, one of the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in an open field north of RAF High Ercall and was damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle I off Gibraltar: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle

Operator:

Registration:

P1451

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

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Shortly after takeoff from Gibraltar-North Front Airport, while climbing at night, the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Francis Bartkiewicz,
W/O Joseph Julius De Marco,
F/Sgt Denison Charles Henderson,
F/Sgt Grant Lawrence Henning,
F/Lt Gordon Webster Thorougood,
F/Sgt Leo Clifford Webster.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle I at RAF Tain

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle

Operator:

Registration:

P1431

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Tain - Tain

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Circumstances:

While circling in the vicinity of RAF Tain, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed 2 km northeast of the airfield. The crew escaped unhurt.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle I in Shalbourne: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.41 Albemarle

Operator:

Registration:

P1368

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down

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Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Boscombe Down on a test flight. En route, the starboard engine failed, forcing the crew to feather the propeller. At an altitude of 500 feet, the crew initiated a right turn when the right wing dropped. The airplane entered a stall and crashed in a field. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Thomas Walker Caston, pilot,
P/O John Cobean Fisher, navigator,
F/Sgt David Lewis Mullins, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Failure of the right engine and subsequent stall while the airplane was close to stall speed.