Railway Air Services

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The airport of Northolt was closed for arrivals for few hours and only few departures were allowed. After as long waiting time, the crew of G-AGZA received the permission to takeoff bound for Glasgow. The pilot increased power on both engines, started the takeoff procedure and completed the rotation at a speed of 85 knots. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft encountered serious difficulties to gain height and was in a constant stall attitude. Then, it hit a house located in Ruislip, north of the airfield, and came to rest on its roof. Fortunately, the aircraft did not caught fire and the cabin remained quite intact. All five occupants were injured, the captain seriously. Into the damaged house, a fourth months baby was miraculously found unhurt.

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

The descent to Glasgow-Renfrew Airport was started in poor weather conditions with a visibility of 3 km in drizzle. The crew passed over the airport at 1320LT without seeing the airfield and continued to the northwest. Three minutes later, the contact between the crew and local ATC was interrupted by a distress call from another DH.89 of Railway Air Services registered G-ADAJ. His copilot sent a mayday message and obtained the priority to land as he was short of fuel. As G-AFFF failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted and its wreckage was found on the slope of Mt Craighton, near Milngavie, north of Glasgow. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 7 occupants were killed. Crew: Fredrick Stephens, pilot, Alexander M. Calvert, navigator. Passengers: Alexander Jamieson, James Crombie, John McKay, George Beattie, Derek Miles.

Avro 19

The crew, consisting of one pilot and one engineer, were engaged in a post maintenance control flight. Shortly after takeoff from Speke Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

On approach to Belfast-City Airport, the pilot encountered heavy rain falls and the horizontal visibility was reduced to 180 meters. Apparently to maintain a visual contact with the ground, he reduced his altitude when the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located in Craigavad Cultra, some 10 km northeast of the airport. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed, among them the pilot, captain E. Tyrer.

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

On final approach to Belfast-City Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in an open field short of runway. Both crew were killed. Crew: Alfred C. Larmuth, pilot, Reginald H. Vaughan, engineer.

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

The twin engine aircraft left Manchester-Barton Airport at 1100LT bound for Ronaldsway, Isle of Man, with one pilot and one passenger on board. At 1155LT, the pilot reported he was flying at a height of some 500 feet in poor visibility. Less than fifteen minutes later, while cruising at an altitude of 1,500 feet, he saw the mountain at the last moment and tried to gain altitude. Unfortunately, the aircraft hit the slope of Mount Fair Snape Fell located some 30 km northeast of Blackpool and was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire. Both occupants were killed. It appears the aircraft hit the mountain 200 feet from the summit and the correction made by the pilot was too late to avoid the obstacle. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced due to mist. Crew: Cedric Rex Crow, pilot. Passenger: Ronald Swales.

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

While taking off from Douglas-Ronaldsway Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed and burst into flames. While all seven occupants were injured, the aircraft was destroyed by post crash fire. The airplane was on its way to Manchester-Ringway Airport with intermediate stops in Blackpool-Squires Gate Airport and Liverpool-Speke Airport.