Country
code

Oxfordshire

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK Dakota C.4 in Middle Aston

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1947
Operator:
Registration:
KJ971
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Upper Heyford - Upper Heyford
MSN:
14820/26265
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a training sortie from RAF Upper Heyford. In flight, the instructor deliberately shut down an engine to simulate a failure. Few minutes later, one of the pilot under instruction inadvertently shot down the second engine. The crew was unable to restart the engine and the instructor decided to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft belly landed in a pasture located in Middle Aston, about 2 miles northwest of the airfield. The aircraft came to rest and was written off while all four crew members were unhurt.
Probable cause:
The crew inadvertently shot down an engine in flight.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in RAF Brize Norton

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW168
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brize Norton - Brize Norton
MSN:
MW168
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, directional control was lost. The crew tried to take over but the aircraft overran, went through a railroad and came to rest. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Loss of control on takeoff caused by a loss of power on engine number two.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in RAF Chalgrove

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-70255
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
520
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Ground looped on landing at RAF Chalgrove and came to rest. The pilot Ralph D. Campbell Jr. was unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Stanton Harcourt

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
43-35371
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
445
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. On final, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Stanton Harcourt, west of Oxford. While the pilot was injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Harvey T. Bonser, pilot.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. A fuel gauge stuck indicating ¼ tank when the tank was actually empty.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in RAF Chipping Norton: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1942 at 0350 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AB694
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chipping Norton - Chipping Norton
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off, while on a night training exercise, the aircraft failed to gain height, hit trees located past the runway end and crashed. Both pilots were killed.
Crew (6th AFU):
F/O H. A. Kallend, pilot,
Sgt James Greenall, pilot.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the aircraft was unable to gain sufficient height after rotation because the elevator trim was incorrectly set by the crew.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC in Waterstock: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1942 at 1835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7891
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pershore - Pershore
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Pershore at 1655LT on a cross country training flight. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet, pilot lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (23rd OTU):
F/Sgt Charles George MacDonald, pilot,
P/O Cyril Dinham Chant, navigator,
P/O Arthur Walter Smith, wireless operator and air gunner,
P/O Lloyd George Morrison, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Francis William Sims.
Source: http://www.aircrewremembrancesociety.co.uk/styled-5/styled-9/styled-176/index.html
Probable cause:
The accident was a consequence of the dinghy breaking from its stowage and fouling the controls.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Kingham: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
N5259
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moreton-in-Marsh - Moreton-in-Marsh
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route, while cruising at low height, the twin engine aircraft hit power cables, stalled and crashed in a field. Two crew members were killed while all three other occupants were injured.
Crew (21st OTU):
Sgt Ernest Brocklebank,
Sgt. T. A. Worley 3.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I near RAF Abingdon: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1942 at 1630 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AE139
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stoke Orchard - Abingdon
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Following a raid on Rennes, the crew made a stop at RAF Stoke Orchard before returning to RAF Abingdon. On final approach to RAF Abingdon, the airplane crashed near Wooton, north of the airfield. Three crew members were killed and a fourth was injured.
Crew:
Sgt George Alfred Medd, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt Henri Phalempin, observer, †
P/O Dalton Eastman Vipond, †
Sgt E. V. Conwell.

Crash of a Vickers 290 Wellington I in RAF Mount Farm: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1942 at 1325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L4265
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mount Farm - Mount Farm
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Two pilots and one instructor were performing a local training exercise on behalf of the 15 Army Training School. After liftoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain height, hit the tail of a parked Lockheed Hudson, stalled and crashed near the runway end, bursting into flames. Both pilots were killed and the gunner was injured.
Crew:
Sgt Robert Harvey Riedy, pilot, †
F/Sgt Charles Gordon Wiley, pilot, †
Sgt W. J. D. Carter, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Poor judgment on part of the crew who was not sufficiently trained and experienced, causing the loss of control of the aircraft just after liftoff.

Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III near RAF Abingdon

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
X3663
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Abingdon - Abingdon
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training exercise at RAF Abingdon. In unknown circumstances, the airplane crashed in a field located one mile south of the airbase. A crew suffered a broken leg.
Crew:
P/O Lewis,
F/Sgt Redford.