Island Air Services - UK

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Crashed shortly after takeoff while involved in a local plaisance flight. All eight occupants escaped with minor injuries while the airplane was written off.

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

The aircraft was approaching to land at London Airport on runway 23L after a five-minute local pleasure flight. It was coming in after a Stratocruiser and had reached a point between the beginning of the runway approach lighting and the Bath Road when it encountered turbulent air at a height of 300 feet. The pilot lost control and the aircraft crashed just inside the aerodrome and 475 yards from the threshold of the runway. On impact with the ground the nose of the aircraft disintegrated and the pilot was thrown out and severely injured. Five of the eight passengers received injuries of a lesser degree.