Saint Eval - West Malling

On May 22, 1952 at 01:00 AM, Saint Eval - West Malling experienced a crash involving Avro 683 Lancaster, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near West Malling Kent.

The flight was categorized as training and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

11 people were known to be on board, 4 fatalities were recorded, 7 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 36.4%.

Crew on board: 11, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. While completing an exercice, the crew informed ground about a fire on board and elected to divert to RAF West Malling for an emergency landing. On final approach by night, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in an orchard located short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and four crew members were killed, seven others were injured. Those killed were: F/Lt Harry John King, F/Sgt William McKune, LAC John Albert Bacon, LAC Raymond Henry Pearson.

Aircraft reference details include registration RE200.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 51.2954°, 0.4095°.