Zone
Suffolk

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Ordford Ness

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L1201
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Martlesham Heath - Martlesham Heath
MSN:
8484
YOM:
1938
Location:
Ordford Ness
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to make an emergency landing when the aircraft belly landed in Ordford Ness. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Vickers 271 Wellington at RAF Martlesham Heath: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1937
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 271 Wellington
Operator:
Registration:
K4049
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Martlesham Heath - Martlesham Heath
MSN:
01
YOM:
1936
Location:
Martlesham Heath AFB
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a test flight on this first prototype (271 model). Shortly after takeoff from RAF Martlesham Heath, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed past the runway end. A pilot was killed while the second one was seriously injured.
Crew:
F/Lt Maurice Hare,
AC1 George Peter Smurthwaite. †
Probable cause:
The cause of the crash was attributed to elevator overbalance in a high speed dive, which resulted in inversion and structural failure.

Crash of a Boulton & Paul P.64 in Martlesham Heath: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1933
Type of aircraft:
Boulton & Paul P.64 Mailplane
Operator:
Boulton & Paul Industry
Registration:
G-ABYK
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Martlesham Heath AFB - Martlesham Heath AFB
MSN:
P.64
YOM:
1933
Location:
Martlesham Heath AFB
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was engaged in a local test flight on this machine that was built by Boulton & Paul's factory seven months ago. During initial climb, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed. The pilot was killed.

Crash of a Bristol Type 25 Braemar II in Martlesham Heath: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1921
Type of aircraft:
Bristol Type 25 Braemar II
Operator:
Registration:
C4297
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Martlesham Heath - Martlesham Heath
MSN:
3752
YOM:
1919
Location:
Martlesham Heath AFB
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight out from Martlesham Heath Aerodrome. During the takeoff roll, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that collided with a hangar and came to rest. Two crew members were killed, one was seriously injured and the fourth escaped unhurt.
Crew:
Flt Lt Oliver Manners Sutton, †
2nd Class Charles J. Sheridan, †
Cpl Cecil Stanley Ellison,
AC2 F. T. Barman.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.10A Amiens IIIA in Hasketon: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1921 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.10 Amiens
Operator:
Registration:
F8423
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Martlesham Heath - Martlesham Heath
Location:
Hasketon
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, departed RAF Martlesham Heath on a local test flight. En route, while flying at a relative low altitude, the aircraft stalled and entered an uncontrolled descent before crashing in an open field located in Hasketon, Suffolk. The pilot F/o Harold William Gardner was killed.
Probable cause:
The aeroplane stalled after coming out of a left handed spin: there not being sufficient height for the Pilot to get control again. There is no evidence to show why the aeroplane got into a spin. The purpose of the flight was to practice on this type of machine which was new to the pilot.
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