Caithness | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The floatplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea some 7 miles northwest of the Tarbat Ness Lighthouse. Three crew members were rescued while nine others were killed.
Crew (4th OTU):
Sgt Ronald William Ballard, †
P/O Gordon Dudley Gilmour, †
P/O Alistair George Hall, observer, †
Sgt Joseph Allan Johnston, †
AC2 George Kidd, †
AC1 James Kerr Kidd, †
Sgt Peter Spackman, †
AC2 Stanley Owen Wainwright, †
W/O R. Bette, †
P/O V. Marshall,
Sgt H. F. Cole,
AC2 D. P. Taylor.

Crash of a Percival Q.6 Petrel in Castletown

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Percival Q.6 Petrel

Operator:

Registration:

X9454

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Hendon - Castletown

MSN:

Q.25

YOM:

1938

Location:

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Circumstances:

On approach to Castletown Airfield following an uneventful flight from Hendon, the twin engine airplane crashed for unknown reasons and was damaged beyond repair. Both crew members were rescued.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Castletown: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 2, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L9394

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Skitten - Skitten

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local test flight out from RAF Skitten when the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Castletown, about 16 km northwest of the airbase. The airplane was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Edward Dale, pilot,
Cpl Leslie White McKinlay, observer,
Sgt Edward Glenelg Allen, wireless operator.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Dunbeath: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1941

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

Operator:

Registration:

G-ACAN

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Glasgow – Inverness – Wick

MSN:

6000

YOM:

1932

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The twin engine airplane departed Glasgow-Renfrew Airport on a schedule service to Wick with an intermediate stop in Inverness, carrying five passengers and one pilot. En route, the airplane suffered a double engine failure and the pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a pasture located near Dunbeath. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Nine days later, on May 30, the pilot died from injuries sustained.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland I near Latheron: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 29, 1940 at 0930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Short S.25 Sunderland

Operator:

Registration:

P9622

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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The floatplane was engaged in a sea rescue operation. In unclear circumstances, it impacted the slope of a mountain located about five miles from Latheron, southwest of Wick. Four crew members were killed and five others were injured.
Those killed were:
Sgt John Leadbetter Carson, wireless operator,
Sgt Robert Lauder, air gunner,
AC1 George Allan Nangle,
Sgt Ronald Wilkie John Phelps, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Wick

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1940 at 1010 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

K6317

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Wick - Wick

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Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft overshot and landed long. After touchdown, the aircraft failed to stop within the remaining distance, overran and collided with a concrete wall. All four crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed. Crew from the 269th Squadron.

Probable cause:

Poor judgment on part of the crew who continued the approach at a too high altitude.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Wick

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1939

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

K8744

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Wick - Wick

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a local training mission when the twin engine airplane crashed upon landing at Wick Airport. Both crew members were uninjured.
Crew:
P/O Peter Noel Trolove, pilot,
P/O Brinsden, pilot.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus I off Wick

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Supermarine Walrus

Operator:

Registration:

L2237

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a maritime patrol flight on behalf of the 712th Squadron. En route, the pilot lost control of the aircraft following an engine failure. The seaplane crashed into the sea off Wick and was lost. The fate of the crew is uncertain.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.