1929 Imperial Airways Handley Page W.10 crash
Encyclopedia
The 1929 Imperial Airways Handley Page W.10 crash happened on 17 June 1929 when Handley Page W.10 G-EBMT suffered an engine failure and subsequently ditched in the English Channel
off Dungeness with the loss of seven lives. The aircraft was operating an international scheduled flight from Croydon
to Le Bourget Airport, Paris, France.
on 25 December 1925.
to Zurich, Switzerland via Le Bourget, Paris and Basle, Switzerland. Having departed from Croydon at 10:30, the aircraft was some 15 miles (24.1 km) out over the English Channel
, flying at an altitude of 2500 feet (762 m), when a connecting rod in the starboard engine broke. A mayday
was broadcast by radio and the pilot attempted to divert to Lympne
. As he was unable to reach land, the pilot landed G-EBMT in the sea near the Belgian
trawler Gaby. G-EBMT landed in the sea some 50 yards (45.7 m) away from the trawler and 12 miles (19.3 km) offshore.
The nose of the aircraft dived into the water on landing. The passengers at the front of the aircraft were thrown from their seats and trapped. Four passengers seated at the tail of the aircraft escaped, as did both crew. Gaby went to the aid of the stricken airliner and rescued the six survivors. The body of one of the victims was also recovered. They were transferred to the Dover
pilot cutter which took them to Folkestone
. The cutter entered Folkestone harbour at 2:45 pm flying the signal EDY, signifying that ambulances were required, and with her red ensign
at half-mast. The injured survivors were taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital. The body of the casualty was landed at Folkestone, but was later transferred to Lydd
. Gaby recovered three further bodies that day. They were transferred to a motorboat owned by the Lydd postmaster
and taken to a mortuary at Lydd. Gaby assisted in the salvage of the wreckage of G-EBMT. The wreckage was towed to Dungeness, where a search revealed only baggage and personal belongings of the passengers. Three victims were unaccounted for at that stage.
An inquest was opened by the Lydd Coroner
on 19 June at Lydd Town Hall into the deaths of the four victims whose bodies had been recovered. Evidence was given that the pilot was experienced, with 1,000 hours flying time. He had been in the employ of Imperial Airways for a year. The aircraft was shown to have been airworthy on departure from Croydon. The pilot had been the last survivor to leave the aircraft, at his insistence. All four victims had drowned. Verdicts of "accidental death" were returned in all cases.
opened an investigation into the accident under the Air Navigation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations, 1922. The investigation opened on 25 June at the Royal Courts of Justice
, London, with Sir Arthur Colefax
in charge. The cause of the engine failure was the fracture of No. 4 connecting rod in the starboard engine. The engine had run for 126 hours since its last overhaul, with the permitted time between overhauls being 300 hours. The connecting rod had failed due to the failure of the big end bearing studs.
The aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness had last been renewed in November 1928 and was valid for a year. Its maximum permissible weight was 2946 pounds (1,336.3 kg), the aircraft weight was 2494 pounds (1,131.3 kg) on departure from Croydon. Evidence was given by three of the four surviving passengers and both crew. The fourth surviving passenger was not called as she was legally a minor at the time and had lost her father in the accident. The inquiry closed on 3 July. Imperial Airways and Napier's
, the engine manufacturer, were cleared of any blame for the accident. The report into the investigation was published on 12 July. Amongst the recommendations were that passengers should be provided with seatbelts and that aircraft not capable of maintaining level flight with an inoperative engine and not designed to land on water should be withdrawn from continental routes after 1 July 1930.
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
off Dungeness with the loss of seven lives. The aircraft was operating an international scheduled flight from Croydon
Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...
to Le Bourget Airport, Paris, France.
Aircraft
The accident aircraft was Handley Page W.10 G-EBMT City of Ottawa, c/n W10-4. It had been delivered to Imperial AirwaysImperial Airways
Imperial Airways was the early British commercial long range air transport company, operating from 1924 to 1939 and serving parts of Europe but especially the Empire routes to South Africa, India and the Far East...
on 25 December 1925.
Accident
G-EBMT was operating an international scheduled flight from CroydonCroydon Airport
Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...
to Zurich, Switzerland via Le Bourget, Paris and Basle, Switzerland. Having departed from Croydon at 10:30, the aircraft was some 15 miles (24.1 km) out over the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
, flying at an altitude of 2500 feet (762 m), when a connecting rod in the starboard engine broke. A mayday
Mayday
Mayday is a distress signalMayday or May Day may also refer to:* May Day, a holiday on or around May 1** International Workers' Day* Mayday, Colorado- Music :* Mayday , an electronic music festival* Mayday...
was broadcast by radio and the pilot attempted to divert to Lympne
Lympne Airport
Lympne Airport , , was a military and later civil airfield at Lympne, Kent, United Kingdom, which operated from 1916 to 1984. RFC Lympne was originally an acceptance point for aircraft being delivered to, and returning from, France during the First World War...
. As he was unable to reach land, the pilot landed G-EBMT in the sea near the Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
trawler Gaby. G-EBMT landed in the sea some 50 yards (45.7 m) away from the trawler and 12 miles (19.3 km) offshore.
The nose of the aircraft dived into the water on landing. The passengers at the front of the aircraft were thrown from their seats and trapped. Four passengers seated at the tail of the aircraft escaped, as did both crew. Gaby went to the aid of the stricken airliner and rescued the six survivors. The body of one of the victims was also recovered. They were transferred to the Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
pilot cutter which took them to Folkestone
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
. The cutter entered Folkestone harbour at 2:45 pm flying the signal EDY, signifying that ambulances were required, and with her red ensign
Red Ensign
The Red Ensign or "Red Duster" is a flag that originated in the early 17th century as a British ensign flown by the Royal Navy and later specifically by British merchantmen. The precise date of its first appearance is not known, but surviving receipts indicate that the Navy was paying to have such...
at half-mast. The injured survivors were taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital. The body of the casualty was landed at Folkestone, but was later transferred to Lydd
Lydd
Lydd is a town in Kent, England, lying on the Romney Marsh. It is one of the larger towns on the Marsh, and the most southerly town in Kent. Actually located on Denge Marsh, Lydd was one of the first sandy islands to form as the bay evolved into what is now called the Romney Marsh...
. Gaby recovered three further bodies that day. They were transferred to a motorboat owned by the Lydd postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
and taken to a mortuary at Lydd. Gaby assisted in the salvage of the wreckage of G-EBMT. The wreckage was towed to Dungeness, where a search revealed only baggage and personal belongings of the passengers. Three victims were unaccounted for at that stage.
An inquest was opened by the Lydd Coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
on 19 June at Lydd Town Hall into the deaths of the four victims whose bodies had been recovered. Evidence was given that the pilot was experienced, with 1,000 hours flying time. He had been in the employ of Imperial Airways for a year. The aircraft was shown to have been airworthy on departure from Croydon. The pilot had been the last survivor to leave the aircraft, at his insistence. All four victims had drowned. Verdicts of "accidental death" were returned in all cases.
Investigation
The Air MinistryAir Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
opened an investigation into the accident under the Air Navigation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations, 1922. The investigation opened on 25 June at the Royal Courts of Justice
Royal Courts of Justice
The Royal Courts of Justice, commonly called the Law Courts, is the building in London which houses the Court of Appeal of England and Wales and the High Court of Justice of England and Wales...
, London, with Sir Arthur Colefax
Arthur Colefax
Sir Henry "Arthur" Colefax, KC was a British patent lawyer and Conservative Party politician.Colefax was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, and was the son of J S Colefax, a woollen merchant...
in charge. The cause of the engine failure was the fracture of No. 4 connecting rod in the starboard engine. The engine had run for 126 hours since its last overhaul, with the permitted time between overhauls being 300 hours. The connecting rod had failed due to the failure of the big end bearing studs.
The aircraft's Certificate of Airworthiness had last been renewed in November 1928 and was valid for a year. Its maximum permissible weight was 2946 pounds (1,336.3 kg), the aircraft weight was 2494 pounds (1,131.3 kg) on departure from Croydon. Evidence was given by three of the four surviving passengers and both crew. The fourth surviving passenger was not called as she was legally a minor at the time and had lost her father in the accident. The inquiry closed on 3 July. Imperial Airways and Napier's
Napier & Son
D. Napier & Son Limited was a British engine and pre-Great War automobile manufacturer and one of the most important aircraft engine manufacturers in the early to mid-20th century...
, the engine manufacturer, were cleared of any blame for the accident. The report into the investigation was published on 12 July. Amongst the recommendations were that passengers should be provided with seatbelts and that aircraft not capable of maintaining level flight with an inoperative engine and not designed to land on water should be withdrawn from continental routes after 1 July 1930.
Casualties
The nationalities of the casualties were -| Nationality | Crew | Passengers | Killed | Injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 English |
2 | 6 | 3 | 5 |
 American |
– | 2 | 1 | 1 |
 Australian |
– | 1 | 1 | – |
 Canadian |
– | 1 | 1 | – |
 French |
– | 1 | 1 | – |
| Total | 2 | 11 | 7 | 6 |
