De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth

The Ellenbrook Club

On short final to RAF Great Dunmow, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in Easton Lodge, about 400 meters from the airfield. The aircraft was destroyed by fire and all three occupants were killed, among them the pilot James A. Brown.

Private New Zealand

While cruising in foggy conditions, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea near the Waitaki River mouth, northeast of Oamaru. The dead body of the pilot and owner A. J. McIntosh was found on a beach a week later, on September 1st, 1948. Some debris of the aircraft were also found.

Private British

On landing, the aircraft overturned and came to rest upside down. The pilot, sole on board, was unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Private Swedish

On a local flight from Göteborg, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and was forced to reduce his altitude when the aircraft hit power cables and crashed in a field. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was written off. The aircraft was owned by Nils Olofsson.

Nayler Air Services

On approach to Eaton Bray aerodrome, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. Both occupants, among them the pilot and owner Joan Nayler, were quickly rescued and uninjured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire. Source & photos: http://www.onthewire.co.uk/bray4.htm

Private Swiss

Shortly after takeoff from Spreitenbach, while climbing to a height of some 50 meters, the single engine went out of control and crashed in a field. A passenger was killed while both other occupants were seriously injured. It appears that the loss of control occurred while the aircraft was towed by another airplane (towing practicing). The aircraft was owned by E. Spahni.

Aero Clube de Moçambique

The pilot was completing a solo training flight when the accident occurred in unknown circumstances. The pilot was unhurt and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Kenya Air Force

Damaged beyond repair on landing mishap in Dar es-Salaam. Both occupants slightly injured.

Rhodesian %26 Nyasaland Airways

Shortly after take off from Bulawayo, while in initial climb, the aircraft crashed for unknown reason. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was wrecked.

Royal Air Force - RAF

While taxiing at RAF White Waltham, the single engine aircraft collided with a parked lorry and came to rest. While all three occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was later considered as damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Crashed on landing at RAF Kenley for unknown reason. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, the pilot was unhurt.

Airlines of Australia

The single engine aircraft left Horn Island bound for Cairns with an intermediate stop at Coen Airport (Queensland) to refuel. On approach, the left wing failed and the aircraft crashed in an open field. All three occupants were killed. Crew: Frank Cohen, pilot. Passengers: Charles Hardy, T. R. Miller.

Royal Air Force - RAF

En route, the crew encountered technical problems and decided to divert to the RAF Dumfries. The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair. Both aviators were unhurt.

Royal Air Force - RAF

After landing at RAF South Marston, the aircraft went out of control and collided with a parked tar-sprayer vehicle. The pilot was unhurt but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

On landing, a landing gear failed. While both crewmen were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The pilot was completing a delivery flight to RAF White Waltham. En route, the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft was written off.

Royal Air Force - RAF

En route, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and was forced to attempt a emergency landing in a pasture located in Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Later, while trying to take off, the single engine aircraft hit a hedge and crashed. The pilot was slightly injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was performing a flight from RAF Hendon to RAF Asont Down on behalf of the 24th Squadron. En route, the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing in a field located in Tewkesbury. Both occupants escaped unhurt while the aircraft was considered as written off.

Wilson Airways

Crash landed for unknown reason. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all three occupants were injured.

The Plymouth %26 District Aero Club

The single engine aircraft crashed en route for unknown reason. All three occupants were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Private South African

The pilot and his passengers were performing a local flight over the sea off East London. While flying around the hospital ship christened 'Gloucester Castle', the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. While the pilot was rescued, both passengers were killed. Crew: R. A. K. Pohl, pilot. Passengers: Jack Dewar, G. J. LeGrange.

Private Swedish

Shortly after takeoff from the icy Mälaren Lake, while climbing, the single engine aircraft stalled and crashed. Both occupants were killed. The aircraft was owned by A. W. Ahlin.

Redhill Flying Club

The pilot Robert S. Gray was performing a solo training flight. Few minutes after takeoff from Redhill Airport, the single engine aircraft owned by the Redhill Flying Club crashed in unknown circumstances in a field located in Horne, east of Horley. The pilot was killed.

Leavens Brothers Air Services

En route, pilot lost control of the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a wheat field located near Saint Mary's. The pilot and both passengers were killed. Crew: Arthur D. Leavens, pilot. Passengers: Al Ogden, Charles Sockett.

North Queensland Airways

While flying over the Trinity Bay, off Cairns, the single engine aircraft crashed into the sea some 16 km off Cairns. The pilot and a young boy aged 13 were injured while a girl aged 15 was killed. It appears the aircraft was descending to the sea at a normal rate when it his the water surface and crashed.

Lawrence Aircraft Hire

Aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in the Seine estuary, off Le Havre, while on a flight from Villacoublay to Lympne, Kent. The pilot was rescued while the aircraft was salvaged but later declared as damaged beyond repair.

Private British

En route, the pilot was forced to reduce his altitude and to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The single engine aircraft hit a tree and crashed. Both occupants were seriously injured and the aircraft owned by Ronald E. L. Beere was destroyed.

North Queensland Airways

Crashed on takeoff from Mount Garnett. All three occupants were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Air Taxis

On the day of the fatal crash, Air Taxis Ltd had not authorized the flight, although in the past they had allowed Tonge to use the Puss Moth for his own pleasure at weekends if it wasn't required for business. The passenger, Scrase, was apparently only slightly acquainted with the pilot - which didn't stop them drinking in a pub together through the afternoon. At 16.30 the pair arrived at the hangar and Scrase was installed in the plane - Tonge then asked the mechanic if he could tell him the compass course to Brighton. They took off, but G-ADLP landed a few minutes later at Kenley where the pilot sought out a friend and, together with his passenger, they retired to a pub for over an hour. It was reported that Tonge sank two pints in that time, and Scrase three. At 17.55 hours the pilot and passenger returned to the machine and took off to continue their journey to Brighton, but before leaving the vicinity of Kenley, the pilot made several steep dives at the aerodrome buildings. The Puss Moth then departed at a height of 1500 feet. About ten minutes later the aeroplane was seen flying over Ashdown Forest at around 600 feet - it descended and circled around an open space at Wych Cross, then headed south. After two miles G-ADLP was then seen to circle a football field twice, and head south again at 500 feet. A minute later the aircraft descended towards a field which, however, was obstructed by power cables - at a height of 30 feet, the engine was 'opened up' and the Puss Moth climbed away steeply to 1000 feet. It then appeared to commence a turn whilst still climbing, and it immediately fell into a spin which continued until the aircraft plunged into some trees. The first person to reach the scene found the pilot dead with extensive head injuries. The passenger was laid over the pilot's shoulder and, in a semi conscious condition, he uttered; "1,500 feet. 1,000 feet, we're falling: Can't you do something man! 500 feet Oh God!". There was a very pronounced smell of alcohol in the cabin, and particularly from the passenger's breath. Source: http://sussexhistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=892.0;wap2

Club Aéreo de Bahía Blanca

En route, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing in an open field located in Estomba, northeast of Bahía Blanca. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and the pilot was unhurt.

Private South African

The aircraft christened 'Skylark' was owned by Godfrey C. Dalton. Shortly after takeoff from Johannesburg-Rand Airport, while climbing, the pilot and owner suffered a heart attack. The student pilot took over the control of the aircraft and turned over the region for about 35 minutes before trying to attempt an emergency landing. The single engine aircraft eventually crash landed in Rosherville, near the airport. While the student pilot was unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Johannesburg Light Plane Club

En route, while flying over mountainous terrain east of Paarl, the single engine aircraft a mountain slope some 70 km east of Cape Town. Both occupants J. F. Buchan and K. Leigh were killed.

Spanish Nationalist Air Force

The single engine aircraft was performing a special flight from Cascais to Madrid with one pilot and one passenger on board. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft encountered problems to gain height, hit trees and crashed. While the pilot was slightly injured, the passenger was killed. The Spanish civil war started three days earlier and the passenger, General José Sanjurjo Sacanell, was flying to Madrid to take the lead of the insurrection. Crew: Juan Ansaldo, pilot. Passenger: General José Sanjurjo Sacanell.

Brooklands Air Taxis

En route, the pilot encountered an unusual situation and was forced to make an emergency landing. Aircraft eventually crashed in a wheat field located in Aston Clinton. All three occupants were injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Air Taxis

The pilot was performing a cargo flight from Manchester to Ronaldsway, Isle of Man, with a load of newspapers on board. After takeoff from Manchester-Barton Airport, he was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. Aircraft came to rest in a field in Crawthorne, near Bolton. While the single engine aircraft was damaged beyond repair, the pilot was unhurt.

Durban Light Plane Club

Crashed on take off from Stamford Hill Airport in Durban. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and pilot was slightly injured.

Haus Bergmann

En route, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the pilot was forces to make an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest in a wheat field and was damaged beyond repair while the pilot was unhurt.

Tata Sons

Crashed in unknown circumstances while performing a mail flight. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all three occupants were injured.

Private Indian

Crashed in unknown circumstances in a farmland located in Chowtapalem, south of Nellore. All three occupants were killed. Aircraft was owned by Rajah IV Krishna Rao. Crew: Env Everett, pilot. Passengers: Rajah IV Krishna Rao, H. J. Carter.

Private Indian

The crew was performing a flight from India to South Africa with intermediate stops in Karachi, Nairobi, Mbeya and Mpika. En route to Mpika, while cruising over the south of Tanganyika, the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. While all three occupants were slightly injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was owned by N. F. Dalal. Crew: K. D. Pochkhanawalla, Erach R. Khan, N. F. Dalal.

Canadian Government

Crashed on landing on a frozen lake in Matchi-Manitou, Quebec. The pilot was unhurt but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair as the fuselage was bent. It was abandoned on site and later sunk when the ice melted. The pilot was conducting a mission on behalf of the Controller of Civil Aviation.

Portsmouth Southsea %26 Isle of Wight Aviation

Crashed on takeoff for unknown reasons. Both occupants were injured.

Private South African

Crashed on landing at Karibib Airport. The pilot was slightly injured while the aircraft was destroyed by post crash fire. The aircraft was just bought by Mr. Weissner few days prior to the accident.

Geoffrey H. Turner

While flying at low altitude in foggy conditions, the aircraft hit the ground and crashed in a wheat field located in Rough Stone Farm, between the villages of Bradnop and Ipstones, Staffordshire. The pilot, sole on board, was killed.

Harold Leslie Brook

The pilot departed Lympne Airport in the morning on a solo flight to Australia. While overflying the Cévennes National Park in France, he encountered freezing fog. The single engine airplane lost altitude and eventually crashed on the slope of a mountain located near Mont Lozère, near Génolhac. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was destroyed.

Liverpool %26 District Aero Club

The airplane departed Hooton Park with two people on board. In unknown circumstances, it crashed in Denbigh. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Carl Nauer

The pilot was attempting a world record from Cape Town to Croydon. While flying over the delta of the Congo River, the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances off Muanda, Bas Congo. The pilot was killed.

Anglo American Oil Company

En route, the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances few hundred yards off Seaview, Isle of Wight. Both occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Aerial Transport Company

The pilot was performing a positioning flight from Khon Kaen to the Royal Thai Air Force Base of Udorn located in Udon Thani. En route, he lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a field near Kumphawapi. The pilot was killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

Armand Dufaux

The pilot Armand Dufaux departed Geneva-Cointrin on a solo local flight. After takeoff, the airplane encountered difficulties to gain sufficient altitude. It collided with power cables and crashed in an open field located in Versoix, few km from the airfield. The pilot escaped with minor injuries and the airplane was destroyed.