List of mid-air collisions and incidents in the United Kingdom explained
A number of mid-air collisions and incidents have taken place in the United Kingdom.
1910s
- 1914
- 1915
- 12 September 1915 A Royal Naval Air Service Short S.38 was destroyed in a mid-air collision with a Caudron G.III at Eastchurch, both pilots killed.[1]
- 1916
- 10 May 1916 – two civil aircraft collide at Hendon, one killed.
- 10 August 1916 – an Armstrong Whitworth FK.3 crashes after a collision near Lilbourne, two killed.
- 8 September 1916 – Bristol Scout Type D of the RNAS collides with another Bristol Scout near Cranwell, one killed.
- 26 September 1916 – Bristol Scout Type C of the RNAS collides with another aircraft near Cranwell, one killed.
- 5 October 1916 – Two B.E.2cs collide at Upavon, two killed including Keith Lucas.
- 1917
- 12 February 1917 – A RFC B.E.2c collides with a Martinsyde at Upavon, two killed.
- 15 March 1917 – A RFC B.E.2c collides with a Bristol Scout in the Barnet area, two killed.
- 23 March 1917 – Two Sopwith 1½ Strutters of the Central Flying School collide at Upavon, two killed.
- 23 April 1917 – A RFC Maurice Farman Shorthorn collides with another aircraft in the Edinburgh area, two killed.
- 22 May 1917 – Two B.E.12s collide while breaking formation near Hove, two killed.
- 16 June 1917 – A B.E.2e collides with another aircraft at Scampton, Lincolnshire, one killed.
- 17 July 1917 – A RNAS Sopwith Baby crashed into sea after a collision with a Curtiss H.12 near Felixstowe, one killed.
- 10 August 1917 – An Avro 504A collided with a B.E.12 at Catterick, two killed.
- 17 August 1917 – An Avro 504J crashed into the River Thames after colliding with another Avro 504J near Purfleet, one killed.
- 20 August 1917 – Two B.E.2e collide near Godmanchester, two killed.
- 20 August 1917 – An R.E.8 collides with another R.E.8 while formation flying near Yatesbury Aerodrome, two killed.
- 30 August 1917 – A B.E.2e collides with a B.E.12 at Catterick, two killed.
- 23 October 1917 – An Avro 504J collides with a Nieuport 20 at Colehurst, two killed.
- 26 October 1917 – A Sopwith Triplane collides with another aircraft near Manston, Kent, one killed.
- 3 November 1917 – Two Avro 504Js collide near Scampton, two killed.
- 4 November 1917 – Two Avro 504Js collide in Ayrshire, Scotland, one killed.
- 4 November 1917 – An Avro 504J collides with another aircraft at Gosport, one killed.
- 12 November 1917 – Two Sopwith Camels collide at Wallington, Surrey, two killed.
- 14 November 1917 – A Sopwith Camel and B.E.2e collide at Edinburgh, Scotland, two killed.
- 12 December 1917 – A B.E.2e crashed after a collision with another aircraft near Appleshaw, Andover, one killed.
- 20 December 1917 – A RNAS Sea Scout Zero airship collided with another airship at Jevington, Sussex, one killed.
- 23 December 1917 – Two De Havilland DH.6s collide on take-off at Stamford, two killed.
- 24 December 1917 – Two B.E.2es collide at Lake Down, two killed.
- 1918
- 7 March 1918 - Captain AB Kynoch in a Be12 of 37 (HD) Sqn collides with Captain HC Stroud in a SE5a of 61 (HD) Sqn and both crash near Shotgate, Essex; two killed
1930s
- 1931
- On 6 May 1931 Bristol Bulldog K1081 of 17 Squadron RAF collided with another Bulldog, pilot killed.
- On 26 October 1931 two RAF Armstrong Whitworth Atlas of 13 Squadron RAF collide in Wiltshire, two killed in K1017 and one in J9526, a passenger survived.
- 1939
1940s
- 1940
- 1941
- 1942
- 1943
- On 23 October 1943 two RAF Supermarine Spitfire Vbs of 66 Squadron collide near Perranporth.
- On 27 October 1943 two RAF Supermarine Spitfire Vbs of 340 Squadron collide in East Lothian, Scotland.
- On 19 October 1943 two RAF Hawker Hurricane IVs of 186 Squadron collide near Alloa, Clackmannan.
- On 7 November 1943 a RAF Miles Master of 5 PAFU collides with an Avro Anson of the same unit near Longford, Shropshire.
- On 7 November 1943 two RAF Vickers Wellingtons (one from 26 OTU and the other from 27 OTU) collide near Abbots Ripton, Huntingdonshire.
- 1944
- 1945
- 1946
- 1947
- 1948
- On 17 March 1948 two RAF Vickers Wellingtons of the No.1 Air Navigation School collided near Topcliffe, Yorkshire.
- On 25 May 1948 an RAF de Havilland Mosquito NF36 of 141 Squadron collided at night near Saxlingham Green, Norfolk with a Percival Proctor.
- On 31 May 1948 an RAF de Havilland Dominie C1 collided with an RAF Avro Anson near Bulford, Wiltshire.
- On 4 July 1948 an Avro York of the RAF and a Scandinavian Airlines System-operated Douglas DC-6 were involved in a collision over Northwood, London. Both aircraft crashed into a wooded area and the aircraft were destroyed. All 32 passengers and crew on the DC-6 and all seven crewmembers of the York were killed.[2]
- On 9 July 1948 a RAF Airspeed Oxford landed safely after collided with a Tiger Moth on approach to Perth, Scotland but the aircraft was not repaired.
- On 13 September 1948 two RAF de Havilland Mosquitos collided near West Malling.
- On 24 September a RAF Gloster Meteor of 1 Squadron collided with a, RAF Tiger Moth at RAF Tangmere, both aircraft fatally crashed.
- On 29 October 1948 two RAF Supermarine Spitfire LF16s collided near Hartland Point, Devon.
- On 17 November 1948 two RAF de Havilland Tiger Moths collided near RAF Leuchars, Scotland.
- On 30 November 1948 two RAF Supermarine Spitfire LF16s collided near Braunton, Devon.
- 1949
- On 3 February 1949 two RAF North American Harvards collided while in formation and one crashed near RAF Marham, Norfolk.
- On 16 February 1949 two RAF Supermarine Spitfire F.16s of 631 Squadron collide near Merioneth, Wales, one aircraft crashed into sea and one landed safely but was not repaired.
- On 19 February 1949 a British European Airways Douglas Dakota on a flight from Glasgow to London collided with a RAF Avro Anson over the village Exhall killing all 14 passengers and crew on both aircraft.
- On 1 March 1949 two RAF Avro Ansons collide and crash near Uffington, Berkshire.
- On 15 June 1949 two RAF Supermarine Spitfire F.16s of 601 Squadron collide while in formation over Surrey, one force landed and the other crashed with the loss of the pilot.
- On 28 June 1949 two RAF Gloster Meteors of 257 Squadron collide near RAF Finningley, Yorkshire and both are abandoned.
- On 23 August 1949 two RAF Supermarine Spitfires of 541 Squadron collide while in formation over Berkshire and are abandoned.
- On 15 September 1949 two RAF De Havilland Mosquitos of 109 Squadron collide during a Battle of Britain flypast at RAF Snettisham in Lincolnshire, both crash land.
- On 26 September 1949 two RAF Avro Lincolns on a night exercise collide with a loss of seven crew on each aircraft.
- On 20 October 1949 a RAF de Havilland Tiger Moth was hit from behind by a civil Auster in the circuit at Wolverhampton aerodrome and crashed.
- On 3 November 1949 an Avro Lancaster of No. 148 Squadron RAF collides south of Selsey Bill, Sussex with a No. 29 Squadron RAF de Havilland Mosquito during a night interception exercise.
- On 23 November 1949 a RAF Gloster Meteor collides with a Percival Proctor over Norfolk, both aircraft fatally crash.
1950s
- 1951
- On 27 January 1951 two RAF De Havilland Tiger Moths of 17 RFS collided near South Ockendon, Essex.
- On 26 April 1951 two RAF North American Harvard T.2Bs of the Central Flying School collide near Moreton-in-Marsh.
- On 18 May 1951 two RAF North American Harvards of 6 Flying Training School collide near Ledbury, Herefordshire, two killed.
- On 18 June 1951 two RAF Gloster Meteors of 600 Squadron collide near RAF Biggin Hill.
- On 2 July 1951 two RAF North American Harvards of 1 FTS collide near Graveley.
- On 3 July 1951 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near RAF Strubby.
- On 13 August 1951 an AF Miles Martinet TT.1 of No. 228 OCU collided with a Vickers Wellington over North Yorkshire and spun in, eight were killed, with one survivor. Flight Lieutenant John Quinton DFC was awarded a posthumous George Cross for his gallantry in the aftermath of the crash, in which he died.
- On 15 September 1951 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided during a formation roll near RAF Waterbeach.
- On 1 November 1951 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided on landing at RAF Waterbeach.
- 1952
- On 7 January 1952 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided in the circuit at RAF Linton-on-Ouse.
- On 20 January 1952 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Yorkshire.
- On 29 February 1952 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near York, Yorkshire.
- On 6 March 1952 two RAF de Havilland Vampires collided during a formation take-off at RAF Valley.
- On 18 April 1952 two Sabre 2 jets collided near the bombing range at RAF Wainfleet in Lincolnshire
- On 5 May 1952 a Royal Air Force Gloster Meteor collided with a United States Air Force (USAF) North American F-86 Sabre near Guildford, Surrey.
- On 20 May 1952 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided 20 miles east of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.
- On 20 June 1952 an RAF Gloster Meteor collided with a Vickers Wellington six miles north-west of RAF Newton.
- On 16 July 1952 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near Ottringham, Yorkshire.
- On 31 July 1952 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near Rayne, Essex.
- On 19 August 1952 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near Debenham, Suffolk.
- On 19 August 1952 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near Stanhope, County Durham.
- On 15 September 1952 to RAF Avro Ansons collided near Widdrington, Essex.
- On 17 October 1952 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near Witham, Essex.
- On 4 November 1952 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided over Norwich, Norfolk.
- On 14 November 1952 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided over Norwich, Norfolk.
- On 11 December 1952 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided 23 miles north-north-east of Whitby, Yorkshire.
- On 18 December 1952 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near Alpheton, Suffolk.
- 1953
- On 9 February 1953 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided at RAF Weston Zoyland.
- On 18 March 1953 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided in formation, three miles south-west of Duxford.
- On 28 April 1953 two RAF de Havilland Chipmunks collided near Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire.
- On 24 July 1953 two RAF de Havilland Vampires collided on approach to Meryfield.
- On 1 September 1953 two RAF de Havilland Vampires collided 1 mile south west of Hartland Point, Devon.
- On 11 September 1953 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided Woolwich, London.
- On 7 November 1953 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near Headcorn, Kent.
- On 30 November 1953 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near Horham, Suffolk.
- 1954
- On 5 March 1954 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided four miles east of Deal, Kent.
- On 24 July 1954 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near RAF Leuchars, Scotland.
- On 20 February 1954 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided five miles south of North Weald, Essex.
- On 3 April 1954 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near Chipping Ongar, Essex.
- On 16 June 1954 two Royal Air Force Canadair Sabres collided near Hornsea, Yorkshire.
- On 24 July 1954 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided one mile north-west of RAF Leuchars, Scotland.
- On 26 July 1954 two Royal Air Force Percival Provosts collided at RAF Ternhill, Shropshire.
- On 9 September 1954 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near Neatishead, Norfolk.
- On 4 October 1954 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided north of Chelmsford, Essex.
- On 4 October 1954 a Royal Air Force Gloster Meteor collided with a USAF North American F-86 Sabre near RAF Wattisham, Suffolk.
- On 28 November 1954 two Royal Air Force de Havilland Venoms collided near Hamble.
- 1955
- On 3 March 1955 a Royal Air Force Gloster Meteor collided with a Royal Navy de Havilland Sea Vampire near Paines Wood, Sussex.
- On 19 April 1955 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided in formation, five miles east of Peterborough, Lincolnshire.
- On 15 August 1955 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near Barmston, Yorkshire.
- On 17 August 1955 a Royal Air Force Canadair Sabre collided with a Royal Navy Hawker Sea Hawk three miles east of Yeovilton, Somerset.
- On 26 August 1955 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided seven miles north of Ipswich, Suffolk.
- On 2 September 1955 two RAF Hawker Hunters collided at RAF Chivenor, Devon.
- On 13 September 1955 two RAF Percival Provosts collided at RAF Hullavington.
- On 21 September 1955 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near Church Broughton, Derbyshire.
- On 24 October 1955 two RAF Percival Provosts collided near Yatton Keynell, Wiltshire.
- 1956
- On 11 January 1956 two RAF Percival Provosts collided in circuit at RAF Ternhill, Shropshire.
- On 26 February 1956 two RAF Percival Provosts in formation collided near Tuxford, Nottinghamshire.
- On 24 August 1956 an RAF Hawker Hunter collided with a Gloster Javelin over Wotton-under-edge, Gloucestershire.
- On 22 October 1956 a Royal Air Force Boulton Paul Balliol collided with a de Havilland Chipmunk in the circuit at Middle Wallop.
- 1957
- On 3 January 1957 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided near Hales, Norfolk.
- On 14 January 1957 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided in formation near Worms Head, Glamorgan.
- On 7 June 1957 two RAF Hawker Hunters collided during formation aerobatics near North Weald, Essex.
- On 10 September 1957 an RAF Hawker Hunter collided with a Royal Navy Westland Whirlwind near East Stratton, Hampshire.
- On 25 November 1957 a Royal Air Force Gloster Meteor collided with a USAF Republic F-84 Thunderjet near Newmarket, Suffolk.
- 1958
- On 16 January 1958 two RAF de Havilland Vampires collided near Nottingham.
- On 4 March 1958 two RAF Gloster Meteors collided in the circuit at RAF Church Fenton, Yorkshire.
- On 5 May 1958 two RAF Hawker Hunters collided during a practice dogfight off Selsey Bill, Sussex.
- On 13 June 1958 a Royal Air Force English Electric Canberra collided with a United States Air Force Lockheed T-33 near Spaldwick, Huntingdonshire.
- 1959
- On 31 January 1959 two RAF de Havilland Vampires collided at RAF Cranwell.
- On 25 August 1959 two RAF Hawker Hunters collided near Langley Street, Norfolk.
- On 1 September 1959 two RAF Gloster Javelins collided near Brundall, Norfolk.
- On 6 October 1959 two RAF Percival Provosts collided.
- On 15 October 1959 two RAF de Havilland Vampires collided during formation aerobatics near Oakington.
1960s
- 1960
- On 21 May 1960 two RAF Gloster Javelins collided four miles north-west of West Hartlepool, County Durham.
- On 10 June 1960 two RAF Hawker Hunters collided during formation aerobatics near RAF Wattisham.
- On 24 November 1960 two RNAS Hawker Sea Hawks collided over the sea off the coast of Scotland.
- 1961
- On 24 March 1961 two RAF de Havilland Vampires collided during a formation loop near RAF Binbrook.
- 1962
- On 14 August 1962 two RAF Percival Provosts collided near Ouston, four killed.
- On 4 November 1962 a Royal Air Force de Havilland Chipmunk collided with a civil Beagle Terrier two miles south of Reading, Berkshire.
- 1963
- On 29 January 1963 two RAF BAC Jet Provosts collided while landing at RAF Church Fenton.
- On 7 March 1963 two RAF Hawker Hunters collided during formation aerobatics near Hartland Point, Devon.
- On 6 June 1963 two RAF English Electric Lightnings collided near Great Bricett, Suffolk.
- 1964
- On 12 March 1964 two RAF BAC Jet Provosts collided near Moreton-in-Marsh.
- 1965
- On 20 April 1965 two RAF BAC Jet Provosts collided near Northallerton, North Yorkshire.
- 1966
- On 26 May 1966 two RAF BAC Jet Provosts collided and one then collided with another Jet Provost over Nottinghamshire.
- 14 June 1966 a RAF Vickers Varsity collides with a civilian Cessna 337 near Ulceby, Lincolnshire.
- On 23 June 1966 two RAF de Havilland Chipmunks collided near Tibberton Grange, Shropshire.
- On 17 December 1966 a Royal Air Force and a civil de Havilland Chipmunk collided on approach to Hamble airfield, Hampshire.
- 1967
- On 15 May 1967 two RAF Hawker Hunters collided near Tintagel, Cornwall.
- On 12 September 1967 two RAF de Havilland Chipmunks in formation collided two miles south-west of Portishead, Somerset.
- 1968
- On 26 February two RAF BAC Jet Provosts collided over Gloucestershire.
- On 19 August two RAF planes collided over Holt. Seven airmen were killed. A Victor aircraft and a Canberra collided.
1970s
- 1971
- On 20 January 1971 two RAF Hawker Siddeley Gnats collided over RAF Kemble,
- On 29 January 1971 two RAF English Electric Canberras collided near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.
- On 2 March 1971 a Royal Air Force BAC Jet Provost collided with a Royal Navy Percival Sea Prince near Selby, Yorkshire.
- 1972
- On 16 February 1972 two RAF English Electric Lightnings collided 60 miles east of Harwich, Essex.
- On 10 August 1972 two RAF Hawker Hunters collided on approach to RAF Valley.
- 1973
- On 7 May 1973 two RAF BAC Jet Provosts collided near RAF Dishforth, Yorkshire.
- 1974
- 1976
- On 19 January 1976 two RAF Hawker Siddeley Harriers collided near Nantwich, Cheshire.
- 30 April 1976 two RAF Hawker Siddeley Gnats collided near Dolgellau, Wales.
- 1979
1980s
- 1982
- 1983
- On 23 February 1983 two RAF Hawker Siddeley Harriers collided near Peterborough, Norfolk.
- On 29 July 1983 two RAF Hawker Siddeley Hawks collided over Devon.
- On 12 July 1984 a Royal Air Force SEPECAT Jaguar and a Panavia Tornado collided two miles west of Sheringham, Norfolk.
- 1985
- On 7 October 1985 two RAF SEPECAT Jaguars collided while in formation over Cumbria.
- 1986
- On 25 May 1986 the Vintage Pair, a Gloster Meteor and de Havilland Vampire of the Royal Air Force's Central Flying School, collided during a display at RAF Mildenhall.[4] [5]
- On 6 June 1986 two RAF BAC Jet Provosts collided near Helmsley, North Yorkshire.
- 1987
- On 17 June 1987 a Royal Air Force SEPECAT Jaguar and Panavia Tornado collided off Cumbria.
- On 7 September 1987 two RAF McDonnell-Douglas Phantoms collided 55 miles east of RAF Leuchars, Scotland.
- On 2 November 1987 two RAF Hawker Siddeley Harriers collided during a practice attack at Otterburn ranges, Northumberland.
- On 16 November 1987 two RAF Hawker Siddeley Hawks of the Red Arrows aerobatic team collided during a practice display near RAF Scampton.
- 1989
- On 14 June 1989 two RAF Hawker Siddeley Hawks collided near Dyfed, Wales.
1990s
- 1990
- On 9 January 1990 a Royal Air Force SEPECAT Jaguar collided with a Royal Air Force PANAVIA Tornado near Hexham.[6]
- 1991
- On 29 August 1991 a Royal Air Force SEPECAT Jaguar collided with a civil Cessna 152 near Carno, Powys.
- 1993
2000s
- 2007
- On 16 December 2007 a Luscombe 8E Silvaire Deluxe collided with a Pacific Aerospace PAC 750XL near Rugeley, Staffordshire.[8]
- 2009
- On 11 February 2009 two Grob Tutor aircraft collided above Porthcawl, South Wales, killing the four people on board the two aircraft.[9]
- On 14 June 2009 a Grob Tutor and a Cirrus Glider collided near Drayton, Oxfordshire.[10]
2010s
- 2012
- On 3 July 2012 two Royal Air Force PANAVIA Tornados collided over the Moray Firth.
- 2017
- 17 November 2017, mid air collision between a light aircraft and helicopter, over Waddesdon, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire[11]
Bibliography
- Ray Sturtivant and Gordon Page Royal Navy Aircraft Serials and Units 1911–1919 Air-Britain, 1992.
http://aviation-safety.net/database/dblist.php?Event=COAIhttp://www.aaib.gov.uk/sites/aaib/publications/formal_reports/formal_report_archive.cfm
Notes and References
- Sturtivant and Page 1992, p. 31
- http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19480704-0 Aviation-safety.net SE-BDA accident description
- News: 1979: Harrier crash kills three . BBC News . 21 September 1979.
- http://www.centralflyingschool.org.uk/History/History8.htm Formation Display Flying – Central Flying School Association website
- http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/BCE88067-84CD-4AF8-AC75-0E90332AEB46/0/maas86_03_meteor_mk7_wa669_and_vampire_t11_xh304_25may86.pdf UK Ministry of Defence Military Aircraft Accident Summary – Meteor WA669 and Vampire XH304
- Web site: Incident Panavia Tornado GR1A ZA394, 09 Jan 1990.
- http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Aircraft_by_Type/mig-29.htm List of MiG-29 ejections at ejection-history.org
- Web site: AAIB Bulletin: G-AKUI and ZK-KAY . 24 August 2023.
- News: Police name teenage cousins killed in mid-air plane crash. . 2009-02-12 . 2010-03-08 . London . Rachel . Williams.
- Web site: Aircraft Accident Report AAR 5/2010 - Grob G115E (Tutor), G-BYXR and Standard Cirrus Glider, G-CKHT, 14 June 2009.
- News: Four die as aircraft and helicopter crash in mid-air near Waddesdon. BBC News. 2017-11-17. 2017-11-17.