Country
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Cambridgeshire

Crash of a Boeing B-50A-25-BO Superfortress in Isleham: 12 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1949 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
46-060
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lakenheath - Lakenheath
MSN:
15780
YOM:
1947
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed RAF Lakenheath at 0925LT on a training mission consisting of a climb to 25,000 feet, break up the formation then drop 16,500 pounds of high explosive bombs individually on the bombing target at Heligoland. During the initial climb, while at a height of 500 feet, the captain reported to ATC that all was OK on board. Shortly later, while climbing into clouds, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located half a mile southeast of Isleham. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and several explosions caused by the bombs and the 6,000 gallons of fuel. All 12 crew members were killed.
Source:
http://www.islehaminformer.org.uk/Images/Informer201110.pdf
Probable cause:
The obvious cause of the crash was an in flight fire, although what caused the fire could not be determined in view of the total destruction of the aircraft and the entire crew being killed. This aircraft type had been plagued with oil leaks and exhaust problems, and it is likely that this was the cause of the fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-65-BN Superfortress in Wisbech

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-62191
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
11668
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation. All 12 crew members decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft crashed in a field located two miles west of Wisbech and was destroyed. All 12 crew members were unhurt.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in RAF Upwood

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PA450
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upwood - Upwood
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew from the 49th Squadron was completing a local training sortie in RAF Upwood. For unknown reason, the aircraft landed hard, bounced and lost its undercarriage. It then slid for several yards before coming to rest. All four crew members were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK Dakota C.4 in RAF Waterbeach

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1948
Operator:
Registration:
KN553
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Waterbeach - Waterbeach
MSN:
16416/33164
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie at RAF Waterbeach, consisting of touch and goes. On final approach, the instructor deliberately shut down an engine to simulate a failure. Following this, the pilot in command missed the landing procedure, overshot and landed too far down the runway. After touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran, crossed a road and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in RAF Oakington: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW224
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Oakington - Oakington
MSN:
MW224
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training sortie at RAF Oakington and was due to complete an approach with the engine number one voluntarily off, followed by a go around procedure. While flying over the airfield at an altitude of some 150 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (242nd Squadron):
F/Lt Douglas S. Cameron,
F/Lt Basil C. Hanson,
F/Lt John D. Hughes,
2nd Cl Raymond B. Hollis,
F/O George H. Salt.
Probable cause:
It was determined that, when the crew attempted to go around, he failed to increase power on all three remaining engines number two, three and four. In the mean time, the crew prematurely retracted the trailing edge flaps. The combination of a premature flap retraction and an insufficient engine power caused the aircraft to stall. Due to an insufficient distance between the aircraft and the ground, a recovery was not possible.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in RAF Oakington

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW247
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Oakington - Oakington
MSN:
MW247
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a training sortie in RAF Oakington, the aircraft belly landed and slid for several yards before coming to rest. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
The crew failed to follow the approach and landing check-list, so he forgot to lower the undercarriage, causing the aircraft to land on its belly.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in RAF Waterbeach

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW242
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
SET20
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an unstabilized approach, the aircraft landed hard. On touchdown, the right main gear collapsed and the aircraft veered off runway before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the crew continued the approach in reduced visibility due to a windshield covered by ice. The landing was so hard that the right main gear collapsed.

Crash of an Avro 685 York I in RAF Oakington

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW228
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
MW228
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On touchdown, an undercarriage collapse. The aircraft skidded for several yards before coming to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It appears that, for undetermined reason, the undercarriage were partially deployed and not locked upon landing.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DK in Benwick: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-108877
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
12618
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was involved in a simulation exercise called 'Operation Eagle' and including 800 aircraft. In unknown circumstances, the twin engine aircraft collided with another USAAF C-47 registered 42-92679 and carrying a crew of five as well. Both aircraft crashed in a field located near Benwick and were destroyed. All ten crew members on both aircraft were killed. The exact circumstances of the collision remains unknown.