Ayrshire | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was completing a delivery flight from Canada to UK. On the last leg from Reykjavik to Prestwick, while cruising at an altitude of 4,000 feet east of the Isle of Arran, the crew informed ground that he was approaching Prestwick Airport. One minute later, the aircraft crashed into the Firth of Clyde, about four miles offshore. Some documents were found a day later on a beach but no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew:
F/Lt Hector Roy Hannaford 3.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Prestwick

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

FK221

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

YOM:

1941

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The undercarriage collapsed on landing. The aircraft skidded for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

The undercarriage were not properly down and locked on touchdown and partially retracted. It is possible this was caused by a failure of the undercarriage extension system.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V off Maidens: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1945 at 1015 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

AM562

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Turnberry - Turnberry

MSN:

414-2644

YOM:

1941

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Shortly after take off from RAF Turnberry, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea two miles off Maidens, north of the airbase. All five crew members were killed. They were engaged in a coastal patrol mission at that time.
Crew (5th OTU):
W/O John Robertson, pilot,
Sgt Eric Raynor Kelsall, navigator,
F/Sgt Norman Walter Huggins, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt James Vincent Jenkins, wireless operator and air gunner,
Peter Bernard Joseph, observer.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress on Beinn Nuis Hill: 11 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

42-97286

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Knettishall – Prestwick

MSN:

7759

YOM:

1942

Location:

Beinn Nuis Hill (Isle of Arran)

Ayrshire

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

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En route, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of Beinn Nuis Hill, on the Isle of Arann. All 11 occupants were killed. An unconfirmed report stated the crew was carrying an illegal load of whiskey on behalf of British Officers.
Crew (560th Bombing Squadron);
Cpt John N. Littlejohn, pilot,
2nd Lt Robert N. Stoaks, copilot,
2nd Lt William J. Frey, navigator,
1st Lt Richard W. Rosebasky, navigator,
2nd Lt Leonard W. Bond, bomb aimer,
Cpl Joseph A. Payne, flight engineer,
Cpl Albert E. Thomas, radio operator.
Passengers:
Maj James R. Bell,
2nd Lt Jack D. Merkley,
Sgt Charles S. Brown,
S/Sgt Wade D. Kriner.
Source & photos:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/scotland/scotland42-97286.htm

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-1-DC Skymaster in Prestwick: 25 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1944 at 0100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

42-72171

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

City

Schedule:

Boston – Gander – Keflavik – Prestwick

MSN:

10276

YOM:

1943

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The pilot started the descent by night and poor weather conditions. On final approach, the four engine aircraft was too low and hit the roof of a house before crashing onto houses, short of runway. All 20 occupants were killed and five people on the ground as well. Due to low visibility, the crew did not realize his altitude was insufficient.
On board the aircraft:
G. Golden,
B. S. Oglesby,
D. McGrew,
L. Bigotto,
A. Gorski,
A. Scott,
Eugene R. Venabe,
Norman A. Loeb,
Madison C. Schepps,
John E. Fissel Jr.,
Vivanna Cronin,
Thomas W. Kirk,
Braxton G. Flemming,
Horace J. Fortenberry,
Ernest E. Jesch,
William C. Farley,
Glenn K. Erickson,
Burt D. Hogsett,
John B. Krusi,
Harry Berman,
Civilians killed on the ground:
Thomas George Maitland,
Robert A. Handyside,
William K. Snowden,
Thomas Kinnear,
Irene Haswell.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar in Prestwick

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-60 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

42-56015

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

18-2488

YOM:

1943

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Crashed on take off for unknown reason. Crew fate unknown as well.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E-BO Flying Fortress in Prestwick: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 2, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

9207

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

2392

YOM:

1944

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The crew was performing a mail flight from Prestwick to Canada with the RCAF courier on board. Shortly after take off, the aircraft went into a steep climb, stalled and crashed at full power. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire and all five occupants from the 168th Squadron were killed.

Probable cause:

No official cause of crash was found. Nevertheless, some reports theorized that cargo shifted shortly after rotation, causing the aircraft stall and crash. The aircraft did not have final version of RCAF developed mail restraints installed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar on Mt Beinn Nuis: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed C-60 LodeStar

Operator:

Registration:

42-56014

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Keflavik - Prestwick

MSN:

18-2487

YOM:

1943

Location:

Beinn Nuis Hill (Isle of Arran)

Ayrshire

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Beinn Nuis located on Arann Island, Ayrshire, while performing a flight from Keflavik to Prestwick. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew (17th Aerial Transport Group):
Pfc Bernard T. Boone,
T/Sgt John M. Fantaskey,
Maj Louis C. Goldsmith,
S/Sgt John G. Johnson,
1st Lt John R. MacKenzie,
2nd Lt Richard H. Riddle,
Pvt William Silberg.