Paris - Croydon

On February 10, 1930 at 12:50 PM, Paris - Croydon experienced a crash involving Farman F.63bis Goliath, operated by Air Union France, with the event recorded near Marden Kent.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

6 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 33.3%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 3, passenger fatalities: 2, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The aircraft departed Paris-Le Bourget Airport at 1005LT bound for Croydon. Fifteen minutes later, engine problems forced the crew to return to Le Bourget. Spark plugs were changed and the crew took off again at 1045LT. While cruising in the vicinity of Maidstone, Kent, the crew heard a loud bang coming from the rear of the aircraft. A part of the stabilizer detached and pilot reduced his altitude when all passengers were positioned in the rear of the cabin. On approach to a snow covered field located in Marden, at a height of 15 metres, the pilot cut both engines when the aircraft gain height and climbed to a height of 30 metres. Then it stalled and crashed on the ground, bursting into flames. The passenger Hugh Curzon who was unhurt, could rescue and evacuate all three crew members who were injured, but was unable to rescue both other passengers who remained prisoners of the cabin under fire. Crew: Henri Nevot, pilot, Mr. Le Sollier, mechanic, Mr. Alveaux, radio. Passengers: Hugh Curzon, employee of Cook Company in Paris, Mr. & Mrs. A. Hodges, US citizen who get back to England following a honeymoon in Paris.

Aircraft reference details include registration F-FHMY, MSN 21/6844, year of manufacture 1920.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 51.1768°, 0.5032°.