Country
code

Denbighshire

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-50-BN Washington B.1 in Llanarmon-yn-Iâl: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1953
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WF502
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Marham - Marham
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie from RAF Marham. While cruising by night at an altitude of 19,000 feet, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that went into a dive. While plunging into the earth at a height of 850 feet, the aircraft disintegrated in the air and eventually crashed in an open field located near Llanarmon-yn-Iâl. The debris were found on an area more than five miles and all ten occupants have been killed. The crew was unable to send any sort of mayday message.
Crew:
S/L W. R. Sloane,
P/O C. B. Speller,
P/O M. J. Lightowlers,
Sgt E. F. Wheeler,
Sgt K. A. Reakes,
Sgt R. F. S. Anderson,
Sgt E. D. Pearton,
Sgt A. J. Martin,
Sgt M. J. Clifton,
Sgt R. G. Hughson.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII near Saint Asaph: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1947 at 1636 LT
Operator:
Registration:
G-AIHU
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lille – Liverpool
MSN:
1306
YOM:
1946
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While at Lille 6,380 kg (96 bales) of fabric was loaded onto the aircraft, this was described in contemporary newspaper reports as being woolen piece goods. Once this was complete their flight plan was submitted to the Lille controller, it was a direct flight back to Speke, and they received a weather briefing for the planned route. This indicated that there would be dense cloud layers from 1000 feet upwards on the entire route with some rain. The wind as far as the London area was forecast to be from the Southwest at 35 to 40 knots and from the Northwest beyond there at a similar speed. The estimated flight time was 1 hour 30 minutes. The aircraft departed Lille at 14:38 GMT and made contact with the regional control at Uxbridge at 15:06, they reported that they had flown over the French coast in the Dunkerque area at 14:46. At around 15:15 they were over the east coast of England between Ipswich and Colchester, they were already someway off course due to the strong wind and this was confirmed with a position fix at 15:35 which put the aircraft over the fens in the Ely area. Had they not had the strong cross wind their intended track at this point would have taken them over Bedford. Upon confirming how far off course they were the pilot adopted a more westerly course and asked Uxbridge if he should contact the Manchester area control at Ringway, they replied yes. By around 16:00 to 16:05 was more or less back on the right course in the Stafford area. The crew never made contact with Ringway, their call-sign was heard at 15:59 but another aircraft was communicating with Ringway at the time. Once this transmission was completed the Ringway controller attempted to contact G-AIHU twice but failed to get a response, the crew had in fact made contact directly with the approach controller at Speke around the time of the second attempt by Ringway. This was to request a QTE (true bearing) from Speke, this was passed as 1340. At 16:10 the Speke controller asked the crew what their ETA was and they replied 16:20, three minutes later he gave the crew permission to enter the controlled airspace around Speke and circle the airfield. They were instructed to report when they had descended to 2,000 ft and reply by R/T (Radio Telephony) to the Aerodrome Controller, up to this point they had been communicating by morse (Wireless Telegraphy). No communication was received from them by R/T and after dealing with other aircraft the approach controller managed to re-establish contact at 16:28 by W/T. The crew reported in plain language "unable to raise 6440 - landing instructions?", they also requested a QDM (magnetic course to steer) at 16:32, this and the landing instructions were transmitted, the QDM was 0900 which put the aircraft to the west of Speke. The landing instructions were "QHG QHE2 QGP1 QFM 1000 ft" which translated as "you are cleared to enter the traffic circuit, inform me when you are on the down wind leg, your turn for landing is No.1, maintain (or fly at) an altitude of 1000 ft". The approach controller contacted the aircraft again at 16:35 to ask for their position and ETA, the receipt of this was acknowledged but no reply was ever received. Shortly after this the aircraft struck the trees on the top of Cwm Mountain at a recorded height of 998 feet above sea level and broke up. The wreckage was spread along a magnetic bearing of 0850 for some 400 yards. The aircraft had been flying with the flaps and undercarriage in the up position. All four crew members were killed. The AIB investigation revealed that the aircraft had over flown the airfield at Hooton Park near Ellesmere Port in a North Westerly direction at an estimated altitude of 400 to 450 feet at 16:15 and was next witnessed crossing the Welsh coast heading South West near Prestatyn at 16:30. At around the time the crew received the QDM of 090o the aircraft was heard by an Army officer in low cloud to the west of St Asaph heading East.
Crew:
John Hale Parsonage, pilot,
John Driver, copilot,
Allan Brook, navigator,
John E. Evans, radio operator.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/wales/walesg-aihu.htm

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Moel y Gamelin: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X7064
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Flight number:
RAF064
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
On a training flight, crew lost his orientation and the control of the aircraft that crashed in a prairie. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in World’s End: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 30, 1944 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
P6800
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Flight number:
RAF800
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was engaged in a solo training mission which included several maneuvers, single engine test and local map reading. While cruising at an altitude of some 400 feet, the aircraft was flying into a valley when a wing hit tree tops. Aircraft stalled and crashed in a wooded and hilly terrain. The pilot was killed and the aircraft was destroyed. Weather conditions were considered as good at the time of the accident.
Crew:
Kenneth Albert Wilson.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I on Mt Moel Sych: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BM824
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Moel Sych, southeast of Llandrillo. A crew member was killed while two others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL on Moel y Gaer: 12 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-7803
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Prestwick – Atcham
MSN:
4308
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a personnel transport from Prestwick to RAF Atcham on behalf of the 64th Transport Group. While flying northeast of Denbigh, the pilot encountered cloudy conditions and the visibility was poor. While flying too low, the aircraft hit the north slope of Mt Moel y Gaer located near Bodfari and was destroyed upon impact. A passenger was seriously injured while all 12 other occupants were killed.
Crew (64th TG):
1st Lt Charles Edward Williams, pilot,
1st Lt Richard Pazder, navigator,
2nd Lt Theodore F. Furness Jr.,
2nd Lt Morris B. Penner.
Passengers:
Pvt Harry R. Adams,
T/Sgt Jonathan B. Akers,
T/Sgt Robert E. Anderson,
T/Sgt Isreal Gross,
T/Sgt Herman A. Hermes,
T/Sgt Raymond S. Nash,
T/Sgt Jesse L. Patterson,
T/Sgt George A. Lesikar.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Llangollen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1942 at 0007 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N4966
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Cranage - Cranage
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Captain / Total flying hours:
250
Captain / Total hours on type:
181.00
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a night training exercise and left RAF Cranage in the evening. Following a navigation error, the aircraft was to far to the west and by night, went through an area of drizzle and low mist. The captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the twin engine aircraft hit a mountain slope located northeast of Llangollen, near Garth. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Dennis Armstrong Wapshott, pilot,
Sgt Harry Doidge Searle,
W/O Charles Edward Wordsworth,
LAC John Francis Eckersley.
Probable cause:
Navigation error on part of the crew and inexperience of the captain (only 9 flying hours by night on type).

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Berwyn range: 11 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1942 at 1045 LT
Operator:
Registration:
41-9098
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Polebrook - Burtonwood
MSN:
2570
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left RAF Polebrook at 1030LT on a 30 minutes flight to RAF Burtonwood. En route, the bomber hit the east slop of Berwyn ridge located northwest of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. The wreckage was spotted few hours later. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire and all 11 occupants were killed.
Crew (97th BG):
2nd Lt Henry L. Gilbert, pilot,
2nd Lt Robert Earl Beers, copilot,
2nd Lt Lawrence G. Schmitt, navigator,
2nd Lt Leonard Holm Phillips, bombardier,
M/Sgt Stanislas Lepa, air gunner,
S/Sgt Robert A. Kemp, radio operator,
Sgt Kenneth H. Branum, air gunner,
Sgt Wallace V. Sidders, air gunner.
Passengers:
Cpl Marvin A. Koepke,
Cpl Stanley G. Aldridge,
Pvt Fidel A. Villarreal.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson in Llanfair: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N7253
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Sydenham - Hendon
MSN:
414-1649
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was performing a flight from RAF Sydenham (Belfast City) to RAF Hendon (Middlesex) with ten VIP passengers and a crew of three on board. While cruising over Wales in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a pasture located in Llanfair, near Ruthin. All thirteen occupants were killed. It appears at the time of the accident, there was stormy weather with turbulence and it seems the aircraft went out of control after being striked by lightning.
Probable cause:
Aircraft went out of control while flying in thunderstorm activity and may have been struck by lightning.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Mt Moel Sych: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 7, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N9617
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Abingdon - Abingdon
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training exercise out from RAF Abingdon. While cruising in limited visibility due to low clouds and mist, the twin engine aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Moel Sych (2,713 feet). A crew member was killed while all four other occupants were injured.
Crew (10th OTU):
F/O Thomas Leonard Weller, pilot, †
Frank Mitchell, wireless operator,
Sgt Raymond Keen, wireless operator,
Sgt Leslie Copland, navigator,
P/O J. E. Taylor, navigator.
Probable cause:
The pilot was flying at a too low altitude.