Country
code

Caernarfonshire

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK Dakota III in Dolwyddelan: 23 killed

Date & Time: Jan 10, 1952 at 1915 LT
Operator:
Registration:
EI-AFL
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Northolt – Dublin
MSN:
16699/33447
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
At 1725LT, the aircraft christened 'Saint Kevin' took off from Northolt Airport en route for Dublin, carrying a crew of three and twenty passengers. The flight was without incident as far as Welshpool. The intended course from this point onwards until the coast was reached at a point near Harlech, lay over the Welsh mountains with heights rising to about 3,000 feet. At 1855LT the 'Saint Kevin', which throughout was flying under Instrument Flight Rules, asked and received permission from Preston Air Traffic Control to ascend from 4,500 feet which was the planned height of the flight, to 6,500 feet, being the next authorized level for westbound flights on this route. No reason was given for this request. At about 1912LT the aircraft reported its position to be over Nevin. At some time between 1912LT and 1915LT, the 'Saint Kevin', having changed to the Dublin frequency requested descent clearance. Dublin acknowledged this request and granted clearance which was not acknowledged. No further radio messages were received. At about 1915LT the aircraft crashed approximately 18 nautical miles from Nevin Beacon in a northerly direction, at a point about 4 nautical miles ESE from the summit of Snowdon. All 23 occupants lost their lives.
Probable cause:
The cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, investigators concluded that the combination of several factors contributed to the accident, such as weather conditions (clouds, icing, turbulences), pilot decision, evaluation of the situation in flight, flight conditions, etc. Please refer to the final report below.
Final Report:

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I near Rowen: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L6318
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Squires Gate - Squires Gate
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Squires Gate for a navigation exercise. En route, the twin engine aircraft entered a cloudy area when it struck the northeast slope of Mt Tal-y-Fan. The wreckage and all five dead bodies were found a day later.
Crew (3rd School of General Reconnaissance):
W/O Herford Linton Pendal, pilot,
Sgt Robert Wilmore Patrick, navigator,
Sgt John Bernard Wood, navigator,
AC1 Ronald Ibbetson, wireless operator,
AC1 Andrew Smyth, wireless operator.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Mt Mynydd Tal-y-Mignedd: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9562
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training sortie. While flying in a valley in the Snowdonia Mountain Range, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions. In poor visibility, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of Mt Mynydd Tal-y-Mignedd located 12 km southwest of Caernarfon. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (9th AONS):
Sgt Douglas Charles Scurrey, pilot,
AC2 William Kenneth Hawkins, pilot,
LAC William Edward Goodwin, observer,
LAC Joseph Jose, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I on Mt Craig yr Ysfa: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1940 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L9039
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bicester - Bicester
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Bicester on a training mission. While cruising in limited visibility due to clouds, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Craig yr Ysfa (650 metres high) located some 10 km south-southeast of Bethesda. The wreckage was found the following day. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Alfred Ernest Hall, pilot,
Sgt Anthony Charles Catton, observer,
Sgt Fred Graham, observer,
LAC Geoffrey Halstead James, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 504K off Rhos-on-Sea

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1922
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G-EABX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
E4230
YOM:
1919
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the sea off Rhos-on-Sea, north of Wales. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft sank and was lost.