Thorney Island – Cosham – Bude – Trowbridge – Northampton – Spalding – Petersfield – Thorney Island
Flight / Schedule
Thorney Island – Cosham – Bude – Trowbridge – Northampton – Spalding – Petersfield – Thorney Island
Aircraft
Miles M.60 MarathonRegistration
XA271
MSN
124
Year of Manufacture
1950
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFDate
September 30, 1954 at 11:45 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Training
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Crash Location
Calne Wiltshire
Region
Europe • United Kingdom
Coordinates
51.4389°, -2.0013°
Crash Cause
Technical failure
Narrative Report
On September 30, 1954 at 11:45 AM, Thorney Island – Cosham – Bude – Trowbridge – Northampton – Spalding – Petersfield – Thorney Island experienced a crash involving Miles M.60 Marathon, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Calne Wiltshire.
The flight was categorized as training and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.
5 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is technical failure. The four engine airplane left RAF Thorney Island at 0944LT on a navigation exercice via Cosham, Bude, Trowbridge, Northampton, Spalding, Petersfield and back to Thorney Island at an assigned altitude of 6,000 - 7,000 feet. Enroute, the aircraft went out of control and entered a dive. Passing through the clouds, apparently at an altitude of 1,000 feet, both outer wings separated. At 300 feet, the aircraft made a last turn to the right before crashing in a near vertical position in a field. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew occupants were killed. Crew: Sgt Henry P. S. Fowler, pilot, P/O James Henry Hurlstone Green, staff navigator, F/O Eric Arthur Dench, student navigator, P/O Sumair Persad, student navigator. Passenger: Sgt Gordon H. E. Davies, air gunner. Source & photos: http://f-86.tripod.com/xa271.htm
Aircraft reference details include registration XA271, MSN 124, year of manufacture 1950.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 51.4389°, -2.0013°.
Fatalities
Total
5
Crew
4
Passengers
1
Other
0
Crash Summary
The four engine airplane left RAF Thorney Island at 0944LT on a navigation exercice via Cosham, Bude, Trowbridge, Northampton, Spalding, Petersfield and back to Thorney Island at an assigned altitude of 6,000 - 7,000 feet. Enroute, the aircraft went out of control and entered a dive. Passing through the clouds, apparently at an altitude of 1,000 feet, both outer wings separated. At 300 feet, the aircraft made a last turn to the right before crashing in a near vertical position in a field. The aircraft was destroyed and all five crew occupants were killed. Crew: Sgt Henry P. S. Fowler, pilot, P/O James Henry Hurlstone Green, staff navigator, F/O Eric Arthur Dench, student navigator, P/O Sumair Persad, student navigator. Passenger: Sgt Gordon H. E. Davies, air gunner. Source & photos: http://f-86.tripod.com/xa271.htm
Cause: Technical failure
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
4
Passengers On Board
1
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 5
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Thorney Island – Cosham – Bude – Trowbridge – Northampton – Spalding – Petersfield – Thorney Island
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFFlight Type
Training
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Region / Country
Europe • United Kingdom
Aircraft Details
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