Belfast - Belfast
Flight / Schedule
Belfast - Belfast
Aircraft
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIIIRegistration
RG843
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFDate
June 16, 1950 at 04:30 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Crash Location
Achill Island Connacht
Region
Europe • Ireland
Coordinates
53.9522°, -10.0094°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On June 16, 1950 at 04:30 PM, Belfast - Belfast experienced a crash involving Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Achill Island Connacht.
The flight was categorized as survey / patrol / reconnaissance and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.
8 people were known to be on board, 8 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 8, crew fatalities: 8, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew was returning to Belfast-Aldergrove Airport following an uneventful meteorological mission over the Atlantic Ocean. While approaching the Achill Island, the crew informed ground that the mission was over. Shortly later, the crew encountered poor visibility with foggy conditions when the aircraft hit the slope of the Mt Croaghan located on Achill Island. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all eight crew members were killed. Crew (202nd Squadron): Ernest George Hopgood, pilot, Michael William Horsley, copilot, Joseph Kevin Brown, navigator, Harold Shaw, flight engineer, Cornelius Joseph Rogan, signaler, Martin Gilmartin, air gunner, James Charles Lister, observer, Bernard Francis McKenna, airman.
Aircraft reference details include registration RG843.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 53.9522°, -10.0094°.
Fatalities
Total
8
Crew
8
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The crew was returning to Belfast-Aldergrove Airport following an uneventful meteorological mission over the Atlantic Ocean. While approaching the Achill Island, the crew informed ground that the mission was over. Shortly later, the crew encountered poor visibility with foggy conditions when the aircraft hit the slope of the Mt Croaghan located on Achill Island. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all eight crew members were killed. Crew (202nd Squadron): Ernest George Hopgood, pilot, Michael William Horsley, copilot, Joseph Kevin Brown, navigator, Harold Shaw, flight engineer, Cornelius Joseph Rogan, signaler, Martin Gilmartin, air gunner, James Charles Lister, observer, Bernard Francis McKenna, airman.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
8
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 8
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Belfast - Belfast
Operator
Royal Air Force - RAFFlight Type
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Mountains
Region / Country
Europe • Ireland
Aircraft Details
Aircraft
Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIIIRegistration
RG843
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