First mid-air collision of airliners
Encyclopedia
The first mid-air collision of airliners took place on 7 April 1922 over Picardie
, France
, involving British
and French
passenger-carrying biplane
s.
The collision in fog of the British aircraft flying Croydon-Paris with only mail on board with the French aircraft flying three passengers Paris-Croydon resulted in seven deaths.
, there was a steep decline in demand for military aircraft and their pilots. Like other countries, France and Britain turned to establishing a civilian air industry, initially converting military designs to domestic purposes.
The first Airco
-designed aircraft for airline work after World War I was the de Havilland DH.18A. One aircraft owned by the Air Ministry
(registration
G-EAWO), was transferred from Instone Air Line
to Daimler Hire Limited
for operation on the Croydon-Paris route until the three de Havilland DH.34s which Daimler had on order could be delivered. The service commenced that week on 2 April 1922.
The French company Compagnie des Grands Express Aériens (CGEA)
was operating a Farman Goliath
(registration F-GEAD) on a daily service from Le Bourget to Croydon
.
bound for Le Bourget, Paris, with only the pilot (Lieutenant R. E. Duke) and a boy steward (Hesterman) aboard. Meanwhile the Goliath (F-GEAD) piloted by M. Mire had departed Le Bourget with three passengers and a mechanic. The three passengers were an American couple, Christopher Bruce Yule and the new Mrs. Yule, and a French national, Monsieur Bouriez.
Following the normal route in drizzle and fog at an altitude of 150 metres (492 ft), the DH.18A collided with the Goliath over Thieuloy-Saint-Antoine
, 4 kilometres (2 mi) south of Grandvilliers
in the Oise
department (now part of Picardie
), France, some 27 kilometres (17 mi) north of Beauvais
and some 70 miles (112.7 km) north of Paris. All seven people died in the first-ever mid-air collision between airliners.
The weather was misty with poor visibility. The two aircraft suddenly encountered each other in the mist, neither having time to take evasive action. During the collision the DH.18 lost a wing and the tail, and impacted first, with the Goliath crashing a few minutes later. Although people on the ground quickly reached the scene, all were found to be dead except for the boy steward, who was badly injured. He was taken to the nearby village, but died of his injuries. (Early reports claimed the British pilot was the survivor)
by representatives of Compagnie des Grands Express Aériens, Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes
, Daimler Airway
, Handley Page Transport
, Instone Air Line
and the Royal Dutch Air Service, as well as two representative from the Air Ministry
and various pilots employed by the companies. Amongst the resolutions passed at the meeting were that "keep to the right" was to become the universal rule of the air, new airliners should provide a clear view ahead for the pilot, and that all airliners should be equipped with radio. Clearly defined air routes were to be introduced in Belgium
, France, the Netherlands
and the United Kingdom.
Picardie
Picardy is one of the 27 regions of France. It is located in the northern part of France.-History:The historical province of Picardy stretched from north of Noyon to Calais, via the whole of the Somme department and the north of the Aisne department...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, involving British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
passenger-carrying biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
s.
The collision in fog of the British aircraft flying Croydon-Paris with only mail on board with the French aircraft flying three passengers Paris-Croydon resulted in seven deaths.
Background
Following World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, there was a steep decline in demand for military aircraft and their pilots. Like other countries, France and Britain turned to establishing a civilian air industry, initially converting military designs to domestic purposes.
The first Airco
Airco
The Aircraft Manufacturing Company Limited was established in 1912 by George Holt Thomas at The Hyde in Hendon, north London, England.-Geoffrey de Havilland:...
-designed aircraft for airline work after World War I was the de Havilland DH.18A. One aircraft owned by the Air Ministry
Air 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...
(registration
Aircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
G-EAWO), was transferred from Instone Air Line
Instone Air Line
Instone Air Line was an early British airline from 1919 to 1924. Along with other private airlines of the time, it was absorbed into Imperial Airways.-History:...
to Daimler Hire Limited
Daimler Airway
Daimler Airway was an airline subsidiary of BSA group's Daimler Motor Company created to use some of the assets of the failed ventures Airco and its subsidiary Aircraft Transport and Travel acquired by BSA in February 1920.-History:...
for operation on the Croydon-Paris route until the three de Havilland DH.34s which Daimler had on order could be delivered. The service commenced that week on 2 April 1922.
The French company Compagnie des Grands Express Aériens (CGEA)
Grands Express Aériens
The Compagnie des Grands Express Aériens was a pioneering French airline established 20 March 1919 and operating until merged with Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes to form Air Union on 1 January 1923....
was operating a Farman Goliath
Farman F.60 Goliath
The Farman F.60 Goliath was an airliner produced by the Farman Aviation Works from 1919. It was instrumental in the creation of early airlines and commercial routes in Europe after World War I.-Design and development:...
(registration F-GEAD) on a daily service from Le Bourget to 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...
.
The flight
On 7 April 1922, four days after Daimler Hire commenced operations with the DH.18A, G-EAWO was flying mail 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...
bound for Le Bourget, Paris, with only the pilot (Lieutenant R. E. Duke) and a boy steward (Hesterman) aboard. Meanwhile the Goliath (F-GEAD) piloted by M. Mire had departed Le Bourget with three passengers and a mechanic. The three passengers were an American couple, Christopher Bruce Yule and the new Mrs. Yule, and a French national, Monsieur Bouriez.
Following the normal route in drizzle and fog at an altitude of 150 metres (492 ft), the DH.18A collided with the Goliath over Thieuloy-Saint-Antoine
Thieuloy-Saint-Antoine
Thieuloy-Saint-Antoine is a small village in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise....
, 4 kilometres (2 mi) south of Grandvilliers
Grandvilliers, Oise
Grandvilliers is a small town in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise....
in the Oise
Oise
Oise is a department in the north of France. It is named after the river Oise.-History:Oise is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
department (now part of Picardie
Picardie
Picardy is one of the 27 regions of France. It is located in the northern part of France.-History:The historical province of Picardy stretched from north of Noyon to Calais, via the whole of the Somme department and the north of the Aisne department...
), France, some 27 kilometres (17 mi) north of Beauvais
Beauvais
Beauvais is a city approximately by highway north of central Paris, in the northern French region of Picardie. It currently has a population of over 60,000 inhabitants.- History :...
and some 70 miles (112.7 km) north of Paris. All seven people died in the first-ever mid-air collision between airliners.
The weather was misty with poor visibility. The two aircraft suddenly encountered each other in the mist, neither having time to take evasive action. During the collision the DH.18 lost a wing and the tail, and impacted first, with the Goliath crashing a few minutes later. Although people on the ground quickly reached the scene, all were found to be dead except for the boy steward, who was badly injured. He was taken to the nearby village, but died of his injuries. (Early reports claimed the British pilot was the survivor)
Aftermath
Following the accident, a meeting was held at Croydon AirportCroydon 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...
by representatives of Compagnie des Grands Express Aériens, Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes
Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes
Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes was a pioneering French airline which was in operation form 1919 - 23, when it was merged with Grands Express Aériens to form Air Union.-History:...
, Daimler Airway
Daimler Airway
Daimler Airway was an airline subsidiary of BSA group's Daimler Motor Company created to use some of the assets of the failed ventures Airco and its subsidiary Aircraft Transport and Travel acquired by BSA in February 1920.-History:...
, Handley Page Transport
Handley Page Transport
Handley Page Transport Ltd was an airline company founded in 1919 by Frederick Handley Page in the new era of civil flying after the First World War....
, Instone Air Line
Instone Air Line
Instone Air Line was an early British airline from 1919 to 1924. Along with other private airlines of the time, it was absorbed into Imperial Airways.-History:...
and the Royal Dutch Air Service, as well as two representative from the Air Ministry
Air 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...
and various pilots employed by the companies. Amongst the resolutions passed at the meeting were that "keep to the right" was to become the universal rule of the air, new airliners should provide a clear view ahead for the pilot, and that all airliners should be equipped with radio. Clearly defined air routes were to be introduced in Belgium
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...
, France, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and the United Kingdom.
See also
- List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft
- First mid-air fire on an airlinerOctober 1926 Air Union Blériot 155 crashThe October 1926 Air Union Blériot 155 crash happened on 2 October 1926 at Leigh, Kent when Blériot 155 F-AICQ caught fire in mid-air and crashed while the pilot attempted to make an emergency landing at Penshurst Airfield. Both members of crew and all five passengers were killed...