Liverpool Aviation Accidents & Incidents (images replaced)
Dec 5, 2013 12:29:34 GMT 1
Ant, Maddog, and 1 more like this
Post by viscount on Dec 5, 2013 12:29:34 GMT 1
Aviation Accidents and Incidents
with a direct link to
Liverpool Airport and locality
with a direct link to
Liverpool Airport and locality
[dI have long shied away from publishing a list of all known airliner accidents which have a direct connection with Liverpool Airport. There are many listings of aviation accidents (not always accurate or comprehensive) on the Internet, so here I'm attempting to post an authoritive and informed thematic listing. This initial list concerns all airliner and twin types known to have suffered accidents landing or departing Liverpool Airport, en route to or from Liverpool Airport, or in the immediate vicinity of the Airport. I have only listed those where there was injury or considerable damage to the aircraft. Safely performed emergency landings are not included. For now I have ignored general aviation, single-engined aircraft accidents unless injury or death has been recorded. The many incidents involving burst tyres, undercarriage leg collapse, safely performed forced landings etc are ignored here. I have included some links for those who wish to investigate further, usually the most detailed account found. A Google' search will find more.
The vast majority of this listing was made from paper sources, to which I have added information from the web, some conflicting! In the process of
research into the serious, I have been reminded of some more amusing and unusual incidents, so have put these together on a separate table.
This list hopefully in a small way is a memorial to those who have died in aviation related incidents locally, but whose involvement has pushed forward
air transport safety. Do please remember that this list covers around 90 years of aviation, which has not always been as safe as it is today. Do note that the majority of the accidents listed here did not result in fatalities, indeed in many injuries were at worst slight, even where the aircraft was written off.
Updated mid 2020 with inclusion of three 2019 incidents and details found for a 1978 fatal accident on Greenland of an aircraft bound for Liverpool, and a further incident added 2023.
My apologies for the few remaining Photobucket watermarked images, left there as replacement with a clean image has not proved possible. Many have been replaced by the contributors, to whom a big 'thank you'.
[/div]
Date Regn Aircraft Type Sector of Owner/Operator Comments and details
Flight
02.03.35 G-ADAG DH.89 Dragon Rapide Speke Hillman's Airways Ltd Damaged on landing at Speke in hazy visibility. Repaired
landing www.ab-ix.co.uk/dh89.pdf look for c/no 6250
01.07.35 G-ADED DH.84 Dragon away Railway Air Services Operated by Manx Airlines, the aircraft departed Ronaldsway in calm
departure conditions for Blackpool-Speke-Manchester/Barton. Cleared the boundary
but failed to climb. Struck a hedge top and nosed over in a potato field.
Burst into flames Pilot and 6 passengers, of whom three were injured. No
fatalities.
aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=26006
26.10.35 G-ADEE DH.84 Dragon II en route Railway Air Services On a regular passenger flight routing Manchester/Barton-Speke-Ronaldsway.
outbound The aircraft arrived at 11.35am. A passenger was picked-up and the aircraft
left Speke for Blackpool/Squires Gate at 11.44. At approx 12.08 the
aircraft struck the slope of Fairsnape Fell, some 200ft below the 1,700ft
summit. Both occupants killed instantly on impact, the aircraft almost
completely destroyed by fire.
www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/pennines/penninesg-adee.htm
01.02.36 G-ABSS Avro 616 Sport Avian * ? * H.Mason, private a/c Crashed into the River Mersey
www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_r2e_fdyik (near one minute in)
10.06.36 G-ABZF Avro 631 Cadet * ? * Mersey Aero & Sport Co Spun and crashed at Liverpool Airport, both occupants died.
19.09.36 G-AEKL P.6 Mew Gull ground T. Campbell Black Flying Officer Salter, Assistant Adjutant and CFI of 611 Sqdn
having landed
K3044 Hawker Hart collision No.611 Squadron RAF in a Hawker Hart, collided with Mr Tom Campbell Black (famous for piloting
DH Comet racer G-ACSS 'Grosvenor House' to victory in the 1934 England to
Australia Air Race) who was waiting to take-off. He had been at Speke for
sponsor John Moores of Littlewoods to name the Mew Gull "Miss Liverpool",
to compete in an England to South Africa Air Race. Tom Campbell Black died
of his injuries. The Hart biplane was written-off, although Mew Gull G-AEKL
was repaired, eventually destroyed by bombing at Lympne 3rd July 1940.
www.south-lancs-aviation.bravepages.com/K3044.htm
tomcampbellblack.150m.com/ (about half way down)
www.a-e-g.org.uk/the-ghost-of-speke.html
02.02.37 G-AEHC DH.90 Dragonfly en route Daily Express The flight originated in Ireland and called at Glasgow/Renfrew Airport
inbound Newspapers departing at 11am for Liverpool Speke. All 4 onboard killed when the
aircraft crashed on Darnaw in the Falloway Hills, near Newton Stewart.
www.geograph.org.uk/photo/180391
www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/scotland/scotlandg-aehc.htm
NB this was a different version, but has been changed with Speke as destination.
aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=18782
11.04.37 G-AELD DH.82A Tiger Moth away ldng Liverpool & District A.C. Cr. and caught fire, Talacre Beach. Pilot injured, passenger killed.
06.12.37 K5159 Hawker Audax I en route RAF, 5FTS Sealand Cr. on house in fog, Globe St, Everton, pilot killed
01.05.38 G-AEMS BA L.25c Swallow 2 en route Mersey Aero & Sports Co Cr. & burned, Bromborough, both occupants killed
09.05.38 G-AENR DH.86 Express away Isle of Man Air Svs On an early morning mail flight Speke-Ronaldsway, Capt Hesketh and First
landing Officer Bob Lowe along with 4 passengers coming in low over the sea in gusty
weather conditions hit the aerodrome perimeter wall, ripping off the
undercarriage and slid to an abrupt stop sending the mail and newspapers
forward. Only injury was a passenger with a cut nose.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Express
21.10.38 K7019 H.P. Harrow en route No.115 Squadron RAF On an evening cross country flight from West Freugh to Marham, via Point of
Ayr, Blackpool, Ternhill and Cheltenham. Around 7 miles NNE of Liverpool at
4,000ft the port engine suddenly failed. Pilot Sgt. Lines altered course for
RAF Sealand. Oscillation of aileron control caused violent vibration until
aircraft was rendered uncontrollable. Suspecting structural failure Sgt.
Lines gave orders to abandon aircraft, and the crew landed by parachute.
With Sgt. Lines still at the controls, the aircraft crash landed into a
field near Halewood, 3 miles NE of Speke at 6.25pm. Sgt. Lines crawled
out of the wreckage with hardly a scratch.
www.south-lancs-aviation.bravepages.com/k7019.htm
25.04.39 G-AEAK DH.89A Dragon Rapide Speke Isle of Man Air Svs Following anti-aircraft exercise with the T.A. in the Manchester area,
landing darkness was setting in as Capt. Hesketh made an approach to Speke. The
aircraft struck a tall tree, resulting in a nose-down crash onto the
airfield. Capt. Hesketh suffered severe injuries from which he did recover.
aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=18725
12.07.39 L7214 Hawker Hind on ground No.611 Squadron RAF Believed to have been damaged in a hangar fire at Speke
www.lamr.co.uk/Crashes/L7214.htm
28.07.39 N7260 Lockheed Hudson local flt Lockheed A/c Corp. On a test flight prior to delivery to RAF. Only a few minutes into the
flight at around 3.30pm wing and tail plane detached, aircraft entered a
spin, crashing in a field at Church Farm, near Thurstaston, Wirral. All
3 American crewmen killed. Sabotage suspected although cause never
revealed.
www.south-lancs-aviation.bravepages.com/N7260.htm
13.02.40 G-AEHJ Heston Phoenix climb out British American Air Services Cr into River Mersey on climb out from Speke. 3 occupants survived
aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=25056
War time years, September 1939 to May 1945, considered (for now) outside
the scope of this accident listing. Although any Liverpool connected civilian airliner
accidents during this period will be listed.
12.02.46 --?-- Fairey Firefly en route Fleet Air Arm On a flight from RNAS Burscough, while above cloud aircraft suffered
engine trouble. Pilot baled out and landed safely. The Firefly dived
out of the overcast into St.John's Road, Bootle, killing a child.
16.08.46 G-AGUE Avro Mk.19 (Anson) local flt Railway Air Services After an engine change, written off on departure, crashing into Stockton's
Wood, Speke. A web source states was on a scheduled flight Croydon-
Liverpool-Isle of Man. Thought no fatalities, but several serious injuries.
aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=27930
15.04.47 G-AHKR DH.89A Dragon Rapide away British European A/ws On a scheduled service from Speke to Ronaldsway with First Officer Alan
landing Woodcoat, Radio Officer Capt. John Nicholl and five passengers. Bad weather
at Ronaldsway prevented a landing and the aircraft diverted to Jurby. Hit
misty high ground between Greeba and Slieu Ruy, turning over on its back.
One passenger had to stumble down the hillside to raise the alarm at Crosby
Post Office. No fatalities, passengers cut and bruised only.
aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=18767
15.12.47 G-AIHU HP.70 Halifax C.8 en route Lancashire Aircraft Co. The aircraft was operating an international cargo flight from Lille Nord to
inbound Speke Airport when it crashed into Cwm Mountain, Denbighshire, killing all
four crew.
www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/wales/walesg-aihu.htm
28.09.48 G-AJNZ HP.70 Halifax C.8 en route World Air Freight Ltd The aircraft was transporting 1,100 gallons of milk from Nutt's Corner
inbound Belfast to Liverpool in stormy weather. The aircraft hit Cronk-ny-Irrey-Lhaa
just 15 ft below the summit, scattering wreckage and milk churns over a wide
area. All four crew killed, pilot, navigator, radio officer and the engineer.
www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/isleofman/iomg-ajnz.htm
13.10.48 G-AHZP C. Liberator II Speke Scottish Aviation Another 'milk airlift' flight, this aircraft undershot landing, hit 2 street
landing lamp posts, then slid across the grass on its bbelly ending up up near the
terminal. Crew shaken, aircraft damaged beyond
repair. aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=27827
11.11.48 G-AKOF DH.89A Dragon Rapide Speke Mannin Airways At 4pm Capt John Higgins and radio officer N. Clucas left Dublin for
landing Ronaldsway with 6 passengers. The aircraft arrived over Ronaldsway in thick
fog, but made several attempts to land. Was advised that Speke was clear, so
diverted there. Blackpool was closer, but had no landing lights. Within
sight of Speke's runway, the tanks ran dry and engines stopped. An attempt
to glide to the shore resulted in a ditching off Garston and the aircraft
sinking. One passenger reached the shore, 7 lives were lost. The pilot was
found to be at fault due 'to an error of judgement', although highly
experienced with 5,000 flights between Speke and IoM and 15,000 flying hours.
aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=18741
04.03.54 PM628 Spitfire PR.XIX en route Temperature and Pilot 'Tommy' Heyes killed while attempting a forced landing south of
inbound Humidity Flight Shrewsbury, presumed on a THum meteorological flight routing Woodvale-
Met observations-Speke-Woodvale.
www.derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/13753/thum-flight-1953-woodvale-speke
28.05.54 19236 N.A. CL-13 Sabre II Speke Royal Canadian Air Landing on 08 on arrival from RCAF 430 Sqdn base at Grostenquin, France
Canadian built F-86E) landing Force, for Airwork Ltd. Sabre failed to stop within the runway length, crashing through the fence and
onto Speke Hall Ave. Aircraft damaged. Repaired and issued to the Turkish
Air Force 9.54. Destroyed over Black Sea 9.6.60 in collision with F-86 19194
28.03.56 G-AMRB Douglas C-47B Dakota away Starways Ltd Aircraft was positioning from Speke to Glasgow to operate a pax charter the
landing next day to Lourdes. Aircraft struck Greenside Hill, 4 miles east of Largs,
while on approach, due to 'a lack of airmanship'. One of the crew of three
died.
www.aircrashsites-scotland.co.uk/douglas-c47b_greenside.htm
21.05.56 G-AMPY Douglas C-47B Dakota a single Starways Ltd At the 1956 Liverpool Air Show, 'Birdman' Leo Valentin died after his wings
fatality hit the aircraft on exit from the Dakota and his parachute failed to open.
He came down in fields near Hunts Cross. Aircraft had only minor damage.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9o_Valentin
22.01.58 G-ALXC Avro 652A Anson 1 Speke Federated Air Transport Undercarriage failed and retracted while landing on snow covered runway.
landing Repaired.
30.05.58 G-ANSA DH.82A Tiger Moth Speke M'side & N. Wales F.G. The accident to this Tiger Moth Coupe resulted from flying into the flat
landing calm surface of the River Mersey in poor hazy visibility. Flying Club owner
John 'Jack' Green drowned, trapped by the cockpit canopy. The student escaped.
02.05.60 G-AHET P.10C Vega Gull en route Privately owned En route Shoreham to Barton, due to a shortage of fuel, the aircraft crashed
making a forced landing on Brookfield Lane School playing fields, close to
Kirkby Trading Estate. Port wing, port u/c and prop damaged. To Barton for
repair, but written off as damaged beyond repair and ultimately burnt.
forums.autosport.com/topic/95864-mike-hawthorns-vega-gull-aircraft/
18.10.62 G-APID C-54D Skymaster Speke Transmeridian Flying Wheels-up landing. Repair on site by Scottish Aviation before ferried to
landing Services Prestwick 10.11.62.
21.03.64 G-ASHC PA-23 Apache 160 en route Westway Air Taxis Overflew Liverpool Airport with spectators for the Grand National, from Luton.
Orbited Aintree Racecourse and fatally crashed near Old Roan, all 5 onboard
died, including journalist and broadcaster Nancy Spain.
20.07.65 G-AMOL V.701 Viscount Speke Cambrian Airways Positioning empty from the Isle of Man to Liverpool in the early evening
landing prior to a freight flight, on very late finals for 26, the aircraft rolled
to the right, impacting through the roof of the Thompson & Capper "Mothaks"
factory. Aircraft destroyed, both crew killed and two women night
cleaners in the factory.
aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19650720-0
www.vickersviscount.net/Index/VickersViscount025History.aspx
30.01.68 EI-AOG V.803 Viscount away Aer Lingus This aircraft suffered an nose wheel collapse at Dublin on landing. while on a
landing scheduled service from Liverpool. 5 crew and 9 passengers aboard. Repaired.
07.09.68 G-ASWD Cesna F.172F en route visiting private a/c Flew into Cadair Berwyn en route from Luton to Liverpool. All four occupants
inbound killed.
aviation-safety.net/wikibase/18637
09.09.69 G-ARNV Procaer F.15B Picchio en route resident private a/c Went missing on a flight from Liverpool to Belfast, NI. Wreckage later
outbound washed up on a beach at Ramsey, IoM. No survivors.
aviation-safety.net/wikibase/65680
This link used to give departing from Manchester and a different date, it
been revised since and the two sets of info now agree.
04.02.75 G-AZTJ Fuji Fa.200 local flt resident private a/c On a flight out of Liverpool Airport, crashed into Liverpool Bay. Suicide
suspected by AAIB, never proven, otherwise engine failure probable.
aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=18812
late 70s * ? * Cessna 336/337 a fatality resident private a/c Having taxied onto the Western apron and parked, the pilot's girl-friend got
probably out to place the chocks under the wheels, however was fatally struck by the
still powered propeller.
07.10.77 G-BEJY Hughes 369D(500) landing SG Blair & Co While landing after a short hop from the owner's pad in Runcorn, the rotors
impacted the ground. No one hurt, and the helicopter taken away by road for
repair. Over the years since several helicopters have been damaged while
in the final stages of landing at Liverpool, mostly Robinson designs.
31.05.81 G-BACD Cessna FRA.150L local flt Cheshire Air Training On a night cross country flight, crashed onto Musden Head Moor, near
Accrington. Solo pilot killed.
aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=18683
19.05.82 G-BBML PA-31 Turbo Navajo en route Cooper Merseyside Ltd While on a flight from the South of France, home to Liverpool, the aircraft
inbound crashed close to Creil, near Paris. 2 died, pilot and a passenger.
aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=26602
08.12.83 G-UESS Cessna 500 Citation 1 away Brencham Ltd Operated Paris Le Bourget to Liverpool and onto Stornoway. Crashed into the
landing Minch seaway, off the Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebridies. All 8 passengers and
the 2 crew perished.
www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/formal_reports/5_1984_g_uess.cfm
19.08.84 G-BDFT Vickers Varsity T.1 en route Leicester Aircraft While en-route from East Midlands Airport to Liverpool to appear at the
/WJ897 inbound Preservation Group Liverpool Air Display, the engines lost power and the aircraft crashed at
Marchington, Staffs. All eleven on board died.
www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/formal_reports/2_1986_g_bdft.cfm
peakwreckhunters.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/vickers-varsity-t1-wj897-g-bdft.html
wj897-lapg.moonfruit.com/#/history/4532783258
09.02.87 G-OCME BN-2A-3 Trislander Liverpool Aviation West Aircraft departed Liverpool during morning with mail for the Isle of Man.
landing Due to poor weather at Ronaldsway, aircraft diverted back to Liverpool.
Ran out of fuel on finals for 27 and landed in fields near Hale, damaged
when impacted with a ditch. No injuries.
www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/april_1987/britten_norman_trislander_bn_2a_mk_iii_i__g_ocme.cfm
derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/5290
22.05.87 G-AYVY DH.82A Tiger Moth Liverpool visiting light a/c At 19:17 G-AYVY (painted as RAF PG617) landed on 09, slowed and tail skid
settled, then the left wing lifted and altered the landing run by 60
degrees to the right. The aircraft left the runway into rough grass and
came to rest inverted, with substantial damage to wings, rudder,
undercarriage and prop. Pilot and passenger walked away. Aircraft was
on delivery from Isle of Man to new owners at Birmingham and was taken
away by road on 25th May for an extensive rebuild.
www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/dh82a-tiger-moth-g-ayvy-22-may-1987
07.06.88 G-BKPU MH.1521c Broussard away resident private a/c Severely damaged and written-off in a forced landing on M60 motorway,
landing inbound on finals for Barton on a flight from Liverpool. Oil seal failure
caused loss of power. Both aircraft occupants only shaken, two occupants of
a car seriously injured.
www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/november_1988/max_holste_broussard_1521__g_bkpu.cfm
19.04.92 G-PEEL BAe.ATP Liverpool Manx Airlines Following departure from Liverpool on a scheduled passenger service to the
landing Isle of Man, the nose undercarriage oleo did not retract fully. After
burning off fuel, landed on 09 at 2042. Nose undercarriage leg collapsed on
contact with ground as speed decayed. Passengers safely disembarked.
Following temporary repair, aircraft ferried to IoM four days later.
www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/august_1992/bae_atp__g_peel.cfm
www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/february_1993/bae_atp__g_peel_addendum.cfm
15.07.92 G-BPAD PA-34-200T Seneca en route Liverpool Flying School A QFI on a solo flight from Leeds home to Liverpool, crashed near Clitheroe
inbound at around 4pm. AAIB inconclusive as to cause. Pilot died.
www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/november_1992/piper_pa_34_200t_seneca_ii__g_bpad.cfm
02.09.93 G-BDHL PA-23-250F Aztec en route North West Air Charter En route home to Liverpool, aircraft made a controlled forced landing at
inbound Kelsall, Cheshire following a loss of power, written-off and scrapped.
www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/september_1993/piper_pa_23_250_aztec__g_bdhl.cfm
16.08.96 G-ATMI HS.748-2A Liverpool Emerald Airways A late night departure as JEM350 on take-off with gust-lock engaged
departure resulted in an aborted take-off, aircraft overran the 09 runway end, but stopped
within the airport boundary. Repaired in No.1 hangar, reflew 20.05.97 and
re-entered service.
www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/1-99%20G%20ATMI.pdf
flightsafety.org/ap/ap_apr99.pdf
03.01.97 G-ZAPC Short SD.3-30 Liverpool Titan Airways Operating a night mail flight from Exeter to East Midlands, due to fog at EMA
landing the flight diverted to Liverpool. Approach to 09 was made, however as
aircraft passed over the threshold it sank rapidly, touching down heavily on
the right main gear, causing it to collapse. Crew unhurt, however aircraft
was scrapped on the spur apron at Liverpool.
www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/may_1997/shorts_501738.cfm
16.05.00 G-MANJ BAe.ATP Liverpool British Regional On departure from Manchester, bound for Belfast International it was clear
landing the undercarriage was not up and locked. Diverted to Liverpool and landed 09
with the port undercarriage not extended. All passengers safely disembarked.
Aircraft repaired in No.2 hangar and departed 26.07.00.
www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/dft_avsafety_pdf_501480.pdf
14.06.00 G-BMBC PA-31-350 Navajo Liverpool op IoM Air Ambulance On an Ambulance flight from IoM to Liverpool with 09 in use in calm, misty
landing conditions. Aircraft hit river and sank in fairly shallow water just short
of 09 landfall. All 5 on board died. AAIB Report inconclusive as to cause.
www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/dft_avsafety_pdf_500947.pdf
10.05.01 EC-FXI MDD MD-83 Liverpool Spanair In a heavy landing inbound on a routine I/T charter flight, the starboard
landing undercarriage failed due to pre-existing faults and collapsed, substantially
damaging parts of the aircraft. All 51 persons on board evacuated via escape
slides with a few minor injuries. Aircraft repaired, departed 11.09.01 and
returned to service.
www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/formal_reports/4_2003_ec_fxi.cfm
21.08.03 G-BHIR PA-28R Cherokee Arrow en route privately owned Based aircraft, landed away at Tatenhill. A few minutes after departure home
inbound from Tatenhill the engine failed. Force-landed in a small field, hitting trees.
Aircraft written-off, pilot injured.
04.07.04 G-BJYG PA-28-161 Cherokee local flt Cheshire Air Training Crashed into the sea off Hoylake/West Kirby. Two persons aboard suffered
severe injuries and drowned while trapped inside. The Inquest Coroner
returned a verdict of accidental death. AAIB investigation inconclusive.
www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/G-BJYG.pdf
24.10.06 G-BTHA Cessna 182P LJLA resident private a/c On returning from Shobden in the late afternoon, landing 27 into the setting
landing sun, the pilot got too low and hit lighting posts half a mile from the
threshold. Sole occupant, the 71 year old pilot seriously injured.
www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/february_2007/cessna_182p__g_btha.cfm
01.05.07 G-BYPA AS. Twin Squirrel en route visiting private Helicopter departed LJLA with passengers who had been watching mid-week
outbound helicopter match at Anfield. At 11.25pm the helicopter crashed close to the owner's
landing pad at Thornhaugh, Peterborough. Pilot and all 3 passengers died.
www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/november_2008/as355f2_twin_squirrel__g_bypa.cfmAIRCRAFT FALLING JUST OUTSIDE THE CRITERIA FOR ENTRY
Note. These four serious accidents had direct connections with Liverpool
aircraft, but did not occur on the sector departing or arriving at Liverpool.
09.08.68 G-ATFN V.739 Viscount en route British Eagle On 9th August, G-ATFN departed Liverpool in the morning on the Heathrow
via Chester schedule. From Heathrow it operated EA 802 to Innsbruck, due
total electrical failure crashed at Langenbruck, Bavaria, all 48 perished.
26.07.70 VR-BCT Douglas DC-7CF en route ARCO Bermuda While on a ferry flight from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo to Liverpool
forced landing (presumably via a fuel stop), No.4 engine was shut down. When to the west of
Abidijan, Cote d'Ivorie, No.3 engine blew up and fell away, a belly landing was
made on sandy land near Abidjan airport. All 4 crew survived the landing.
aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19700726-0
18.03.78 N8431N Beech A65 Queen Air en route for Vernair (VTS) Two ferry pilots killed in a forced landing while crossing Greenland, had intended
forced landing to stop-over at Reykavik en route to deliver the aircraft to VTS at Speke aviation-safety.net/wikibase/3544 for more detail
26.06.81 G-ASPL HS.748 srs 1 en route Dan Air The aircraft was starting a series of sectors on night mail 'Spokes from
Speke', and programmed to operate LGW-EMA-LPL-BFS-LPL-LGW. However on the
first leg, Gatwick to East Midlands the aircraft crashed at Nailstone, near
Leicester, while carrying mail. The whole 'Spokes from Speke' mail network
that night was cancelled due to fear of a letter bomb having exploded.
The AAIB found the luggage door opened in flight, jamming the tail surfaces.
www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/5-1983%20G-ASPL.pdfLUCKY ESCAPES
22.04.78 G-MDRB PA-31 Navajo immediately Air Anglia Immediately after departure off 17 to Norwich with football supporters (so
Chieftain 350 after take-off towards Speke Hall) the port engine blew up. Pilot commenced a turn to bring
him back to 17, losing height he just managed to make 26. Once stopped the
aircraft was abandoned in case the fuel caught fire. Repaired and left 12/5.POSSIBLE ENTRIES, BUT DISCOUNTED
NOTE. These two accidents, although appearing on other lists (which have now been amended),
I have discounted as probably not being relevant here for the explained reasoning.
26.01.35 G-ACPO DH89 Dragon Rapide away Hillman's Airways Web version states: On a mail flight from Aldergrove, Belfast to Stapleford
landing Aerodrome, Essex via Speke, Liverpool, whilst attempting to land at
(perhaps) Ronaldsway in bad weather, the aircraft crashed at Derbyhaven, IoM. No
mention of this in Gordon Kniverton's comprehensive 1985 IoM book.
Air Britain Historians list G-ACPO as: Blown over on ground in gales,
Ronaldsway, IoM 26.01.35, repaired.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillman's_Airways
aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=27092
10.06.48 G-AIUI DH.89 Dragon Rapide en route Hargreaves Airways A version states: Operating a scheduled flight Liverpool-IoM crashed at
outbound Cronk ny Arrey Laa, IoM. 7 of the 9 persons aboard killed. However in some
(perhaps) detail Gordon Kniverton in his 1985 IoM book relates that: On a private
charter from Elmden Airport, Birmingham, with passengers for the Senior T.T.
at 8pm Capt Herbert overshot an approach to Ronaldsway. It was not until
midday the following day that a survivor was located and the burnt out
aircraft found at Cronk-ny-Irrey-Lhaa. 2 survivors, 6 died - the pilot,
a man, 3 lady passengers and a 6 year old boy.
aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=18740
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Dragon_Rapide
Further details needed.
Let me know (by posting information or by PM) if you have record of any accident that should be recorded here, it is quite possible that this complete list is not as complete as I think it is! I found a 'new' one on a final 'Google' sweep before posting this listing (G-ABSS). Inclusion or exclusion of accidents are to a personal criteria (see introduction paragraph). A few of the entries do require further research, possibly from newspaper archives eg G-AGUE, G-ARNV, G-ACPO. There are likely more, particularly light aircraft during the '30s - although I consider for all airliner types major accidents have been covered.
I have come across on the web mention of a 1930's accident where a small passenger aircraft crashed at Speke having hit a local Church spire. Did this happen? Is this an 'urban myth'? Or indeed, an alternative version of the 4.39 G-AEAK's 'tall tree'? Any Speke/Hale/Garston church historians help me out here?
An 'urban myth' to dispel is that the 'fire dump' aircraft at Liverpool (at various times an Anson, Skymaster, Hunter and Viscount 802) got there due
to crash landings at the airport. All were deliberately placed there after their flying days were completed.
Finally my very many thanks to FoLA and their editor, for permitting me to base this table on a major piece of research by Graham Ward, Phil Butler, Don Stephens, Dave Smith, myself and others published in '09/27' No.120 Spring 2012. There are a couple of additions (eg G-ABSS, G-AEHC, PM628, G-AHET, G-ASPL, G-ATMI, G-BDHL and G-BTHA), while others have been moved out (K7019, G-AMOE, G-ASXG, G-BDNR/G-BIBW) to the listing on the next post, while a few others (G-ALOG and G-AHAK) I'm counting as GA accidents. I've simply applied slightly different and more stringent criteria in selection, but still have anomalies! Since the initial post in 2013, further incidents have been added, mainly pre war. In 2020 added N8431N Queen Air and G-MDRB an Air Anglia Navajo Chieftain, both in 1978, and deleted the line referring, without details, to vague memory of an aircraft crashing while crossing Greenland on delivery. After mention of VR-BCT on a photo-thread, the en-route accident added (7/70) and also now found the registration G-AYVY/PG617 and date (5/87) of a Tiger Moth that I watched overturning after landing on 09, so added that too.
