Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII

Lancashire Aircraft Corporation - LAC

The aircraft was en route from Torslanda Airport, Göteborg, to RAF Bovingdon with a crew of 4 and carrying 174 frozen reindeer carcases. On entering the Bovingdon area the Captain elected to use SBA for the let-down. The last instruction given to the aircraft by the Bovingdon controller was to descend to 2,000 feet and to report when over the SBA main beacon; no such report was made. The aircraft was seen 6 miles SW of Bovingdon flying at a low altitude, and a few seconds later it struck the ground. The crew were killed instantly, fire broke out and the aircraft was totally destroyed.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The crew was engaged in a local training flight in Gibraltar-North Front Airfield. After completing several approaches with one engine inoperative, the pilot in command started a new approach when a second engine failed. The aircraft stalled and hit the runway surface, went out of control and came to rest partially submerged. All six crew members were rescued while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The exact cause of the engine failure remains unknown.

Royal Air Force - RAF

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.

World Air Freight

Crash landed for unknown reason. All six crew members were uninjured.

Lancashire Aircraft Corporation - LAC

Suffered a ground accident while taxiing in Paris-Le Bourget. There were no casualties.

Royal Air Force - RAF

The aircraft left Belfast-Aldergrove Airport at 0850LT on a meteorological mission over the Atlantic Ocean. The crew maintained radio contact with the ground until 1143LT when it disappeared from radar screens. SAR operations were conducted on a large area west of the Outer Hebrides Islands but were eventually suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. On board were three passengers and four crew members from the 202nd Squadron.

Lancashire Aircraft Corporation - LAC

After takeoff from Schleswig, while in initial climb, the crew encountered technical problems with the undercarriage that could not be raised. In such situation, the captain decided to return to Schleswig for a safe landing. On touchdown, the undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft slid on its belly before coming to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was already damaged last June 12 when it collided with another LAC Halifax 8 in Berlin-Tegel Airport.

Lancashire Aircraft Corporation - LAC

On touchdown in Berlin-Tegel Airport, a tire burst. The pilot lost control of the aircraft that veered off runway and collided with another Lancashire Aircraft Corporation Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII registered G-AHWN that was parked on the apron. There were no casualties but G-ALBZ was damaged beyond repair. The crew was performing a cargo flight from Schleswig, taking part to the Berlin Airlift. The Halifax registered G-AHWN was repaired but eventually damaged beyond repair on a landing accident in Schleswig on July 6, 1949.

Lancashire Aircraft Corporation - LAC

Crash landed for unknown reason. All four crew members were slightly injured and the aircraft christened 'Air Ambassador' was damaged beyond repair.

World Air Freight

While approaching Berlin on a cargo flight from Hamburg, taking part to the Berlin Airlift, the four engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Nauen, about 26 km northwest of Tegel Airport. All four crew members were killed. Crew: Cpt William Richard Donald Lewis, pilot, Edward Ernest Caroll, navigator, John Anderson, flight engineer, Kenneth George Wood, radio operator.

Lancashire Aircraft Corporation - LAC

On final approach to Schleswig AFB, the four engine aircraft was too low and crashed few hundred yards short of runway. Three crew members were killed while the fourth occupant was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. Crew: Cpt Robert John Freight, † James Patrick Lewin Sharp, navigator, † Henry Patterson. †

Royal Air Force - RAF

On approach to Gibraltar Airport, one of the left engine failed. The captain elected to make a go around when control was lost. The aircraft stalled and crashed in La Línea de la Concepción, north of the airport. Five crew members were killed while two others, among them the pilot, were injured.

Bond Air Services

After touchdown at Tegel Airport, the left main gear partially collapsed. The aircraft veered off runway and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

British American Air Services - BAAS

After takeoff from Schleswig AFB, while taking part to the Berlin Airlift, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and the captain decided to return for a safe landing. Upon touchdown, a landing gear collapsed and the aircraft went out of control before coming to rest. While all three crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Aéro Cargo

Shortly after takeoff, while climbing in foggy conditions, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located 1,200 meters past the runway end. Three passengers (members of the same family) were killed.

World Air Freight

Crashed on takeoff at Berlin-Gatow, while on a cargo flight to Blackpool, taking part to the Berlin Airlift. The accident occurred in unknown circumstances and while the aircraft christened 'North Wind' was damaged beyond repair, all five crew members were injured.

World Air Freight

The aircraft was flying the last of six round trips from Speke, Liverpool, to Nutts Corner, Northern Ireland, it was scheduled to make during the 27th/28th September. The aircraft had been carrying nearly 1150 gallons of milk on each flight from Northern Ireland back to Liverpool to help make up a shortage being experienced at the time in some areas of the UK. The aircraft left Nutts Corner at 09:30 and had been in contact with Nutts Corner by radio until passing into the Northern Flight Information Region where contact was made with the Northern area controller. This was followed by further contact at 09:59 which ended abruptly mid-sentence with "I am over or abeam I O", both the northern area controller, Ronaldsway and Speke attempted to contact the aircraft with no response. A search for the aircraft was begun immediately and at about 12:30 the commandant of Ronaldway airport located the wreckage of the aircraft. It had struck the very summit of Cronk ny Arrey Laa slid off the summit and landed about 200 yards down hill on the eastern side of the hill where the aircraft broke up killing the crew. Crew: John Frederick George Savage, pilot, Richard Lansdowne Miller, navigator, Oswald Harold Guppy Hiscock, radio operator, Albert Harry Noon, flight engineer. Source: http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/isleofman/iomg-ajnz.htm

Lancashire Aircraft Corporation - LAC

After touchdown, the four engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond economical repair.

Aéro Cargo

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate unknown.

Société Auxiliaire de Navigation Aérienne - SANA

Shortly after takeoff from Paris-Le Bourget Airport, the four engine aircraft christened 'Keroual' crashed in unknown circumstances in Aubervilliers, south of the airport. All three crew members were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Mayflower Air Services

On final approach to Lod Airport, the aircraft stalled and crashed short of runway. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It appears that two engines were inoperative at the time of the accident, maybe following fuel starvation ? Israel authorities reported that the aircraft was on a delivery flight from the UK and that nor the crew nor the operator received any permission to land in Israel.

Alpha Airways

The crew was engaged in a local training flight in Albacete. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft collided with a small private plane. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed near the runway end. All four crew members on board the Halifax and the pilot of the private plane were killed.

Bond Air Services

On approach to RAF Bovingdon, the aircraft became unstable and the captain was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field located in Studham, about 11 km north of the airbase. While all five occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It was completing a cargo flight from Valencia, Spain, with a load of apricots.

Société Auxiliaire de Navigation Aérienne - SANA

Crash landed. No injuries.

British American Air Services - BAAS

Upon landing in Rennes, an undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft slid for several yards and came to rest. There were no injuries but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Aéro Cargo

After landing at RAF Bovingdon, while completing a cargo flight, the four engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Pakistan Airways - Pak Air

The crew started the descent to Shaibah Airbase near Basra when all four engines stopped simultaneously. The captain elected to make an emergency landing in a desert area located 66 km northwest of the airport. The aircraft came to rest and was damaged beyond repair while all three crew members were unhurt. The crew was in charge to deliver the aircraft in Karachi as it was just on the Pakistan register since 4 days.

Handley Page Aircraft Company Ltd

The crew consisting of pilots and engineers from the manufacturer Handley Page Aircraft was completing a test flight in Radlett. Upon landing, an undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest. All four occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Lancashire Aircraft Corporation - LAC

While at Lille 6,380 kg (96 bales) of fabric was loaded onto the aircraft, this was described in contemporary newspaper reports as being woolen piece goods. Once this was complete their flight plan was submitted to the Lille controller, it was a direct flight back to Speke, and they received a weather briefing for the planned route. This indicated that there would be dense cloud layers from 1000 feet upwards on the entire route with some rain. The wind as far as the London area was forecast to be from the Southwest at 35 to 40 knots and from the Northwest beyond there at a similar speed. The estimated flight time was 1 hour 30 minutes. The aircraft departed Lille at 14:38 GMT and made contact with the regional control at Uxbridge at 15:06, they reported that they had flown over the French coast in the Dunkerque area at 14:46. At around 15:15 they were over the east coast of England between Ipswich and Colchester, they were already someway off course due to the strong wind and this was confirmed with a position fix at 15:35 which put the aircraft over the fens in the Ely area. Had they not had the strong cross wind their intended track at this point would have taken them over Bedford. Upon confirming how far off course they were the pilot adopted a more westerly course and asked Uxbridge if he should contact the Manchester area control at Ringway, they replied yes. By around 16:00 to 16:05 was more or less back on the right course in the Stafford area. The crew never made contact with Ringway, their call-sign was heard at 15:59 but another aircraft was communicating with Ringway at the time. Once this transmission was completed the Ringway controller attempted to contact G-AIHU twice but failed to get a response, the crew had in fact made contact directly with the approach controller at Speke around the time of the second attempt by Ringway. This was to request a QTE (true bearing) from Speke, this was passed as 1340. At 16:10 the Speke controller asked the crew what their ETA was and they replied 16:20, three minutes later he gave the crew permission to enter the controlled airspace around Speke and circle the airfield. They were instructed to report when they had descended to 2,000 ft and reply by R/T (Radio Telephony) to the Aerodrome Controller, up to this point they had been communicating by morse (Wireless Telegraphy). No communication was received from them by R/T and after dealing with other aircraft the approach controller managed to re-establish contact at 16:28 by W/T. The crew reported in plain language "unable to raise 6440 - landing instructions?", they also requested a QDM (magnetic course to steer) at 16:32, this and the landing instructions were transmitted, the QDM was 0900 which put the aircraft to the west of Speke. The landing instructions were "QHG QHE2 QGP1 QFM 1000 ft" which translated as "you are cleared to enter the traffic circuit, inform me when you are on the down wind leg, your turn for landing is No.1, maintain (or fly at) an altitude of 1000 ft". The approach controller contacted the aircraft again at 16:35 to ask for their position and ETA, the receipt of this was acknowledged but no reply was ever received. Shortly after this the aircraft struck the trees on the top of Cwm Mountain at a recorded height of 998 feet above sea level and broke up. The wreckage was spread along a magnetic bearing of 0850 for some 400 yards. The aircraft had been flying with the flaps and undercarriage in the up position. All four crew members were killed. The AIB investigation revealed that the aircraft had over flown the airfield at Hooton Park near Ellesmere Port in a North Westerly direction at an estimated altitude of 400 to 450 feet at 16:15 and was next witnessed crossing the Welsh coast heading South West near Prestatyn at 16:30. At around the time the crew received the QDM of 090o the aircraft was heard by an Army officer in low cloud to the west of St Asaph heading East. Crew: John Hale Parsonage, pilot, John Driver, copilot, Allan Brook, navigator, John E. Evans, radio operator. Source: http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/wales/walesg-aihu.htm

London Aero %26 Motor Services - LAMS

The aircraft crashed on landing in Port Sudan Airport for unknown reason. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all seven crew members were unhurt.

Payloads Charter Company

Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

London Aero %26 Motor Services - LAMS

During the takeoff roll, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft christened 'Port of Marseilles' was damaged beyond repair.

Lancashire Aircraft Corporation - LAC

Following a wrong approach configuration, the aircraft landed very hard. After being parked on apron, the technician proceeded to a complete inspection which revealed that the fuselage was buckled. The aircraft was declared as damaged beyond economical repair.

Bond Air Services

The crew was performing a cargo flight from London-Gatwick to Barcelona. After touchdown, the four engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage, went through a fence, slid for several yards and lost its both left engines before coming to rest. All four crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It is believed that the landing was completed with an excessive speed.

London Aero %26 Motor Services - LAMS

Enroute, the pilot encountered technical problems and was unable to receive Radio Navigation Directional Bearings. To avoid any fuel shortage, he decided to ditch the aircraft off Knokke-Heist in the early morning. The aircraft landed about 100 yards offshore and sank. While all three crew members were able to swim to the beach, the passenger, a Norwegian citizen, was drowned. The aircraft was carrying a load of grapes.

London Aero %26 Motor Services - LAMS

The crew was completing a test flight in Elstree Airfield. On final approach, during the last segment, the pilot in command stalled the aircraft that landed hard. On impact, the undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft came to rest on runway. While all four crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was written off.

Royal Air Force - RAF

While completing a training sortie at low height, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a huge explosion in a field. All three crew members were killed. Crew (304th Squadron): F/Lt Dabrowski, F/Lt Matylis, F/Sgt Michalak.

British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC

Crashed on landing. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Royal Air Force - RAF

Shortly after liftoff, while in initial climb, the pilot in command reduced the engine power. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. The aircraft was destroyed and all six crew members were killed. They were involved in a local training sortie.