Shoreham-by-Sea - Shoreham-by-Sea

On July 9, 1983 at 10:05 AM, Shoreham-by-Sea - Shoreham-by-Sea experienced a crash involving De Havilland DH.104 Dove, operated by Keith David Wickenden, with the event recorded near Shoreham-by-Sea West Sussex.

The flight was categorized as test and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The pilot, also owner of the aircraft, elected to make a post-engine change test flight himself. After takeoff from Shoreham-by-Sea Airport runway 07 in good weather, eye-witnesses considered that the take-off and initial climb were normal except that intermittent puffs of dark smoke were seen coming from the right engine. At about 600 feet above ground level the aircraft was seen to roll to the right then turn on to its back and spin to the ground. After a short pause the aircraft burst into flames and was largely consumed by an intense fire. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration G-AMYP, MSN 04421, year of manufacture 1953.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 50.8322°, -0.2747°.