1930 Air Union Farman Goliath crash

Last updated

1930 Air Union Farman Goliath crash
Farman goliath.jpg
Farman F.60 Goliath F-GEAB, similar to the accident aircraft.
Accident
Date10 February 1930
SummaryLoss of control following structural failure of tailplane.
Site Marden Airfield, Marden, Kent
51°10′N0°31′E / 51.167°N 0.517°E / 51.167; 0.517 Coordinates: 51°10′N0°31′E / 51.167°N 0.517°E / 51.167; 0.517
TQ 759 438
Aircraft
Aircraft type Farman F.63 Goliath
Operator Air Union
Registration F-FHMY
Flight origin Le Bourget Airport, Paris
Destination Croydon Airport
Passengers3
Crew3
Fatalities2
Injuries4
Survivors4

The 1930 Air Union Farman Goliath crash occurred on 10 February 1930 when a Farman F.63 Goliath of Air Union crashed whilst attempting an emergency landing at Marden Airfield, Kent following the failure of the starboard tailplane. Two of the six people on board were killed.

Contents

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was Farman F.63 Goliath F-FHMY, [1] c/n 267. The aircraft was built as a F.60 Goliath and registered in April 1921 to Compagnie des Grands Express Aériens, passing in February 1924 to Compagnie Air Union. On 14 November 1925, it had ditched 7+12 miles (12.1 km) off Boulogne and had been badly damaged. [2] The aircraft was given a complete overhaul, returning to service in 1929. [3] The rebuilt aircraft was classified as a F.63 Goliath. [2]

Accident

The aircraft departed Le Bourget at 10:40 am bound for Croydon. It was carrying three French crew and three English passengers. Fifteen minutes after take-off, an engine problem resulted in a return to Le Bourget. No problem was found but the spark plugs were changed as a precaution and the aircraft departed for Croydon again. [1]

After the aircraft had passed Staplehurst, a snapping noise came from the tailplane and the aircraft lost 2,000 feet (610 m) in altitude. [1] The starboard tailplane had failed. [4] One of the mechanics told the passengers that an emergency landing was to be attempted. [5] The passengers were asked to move to the rear of the cabin. [3] Just before 1 pm, [6] as the aircraft attempted to land at Marden Airfield, the pilot cut power to the engines at an altitude of 10 feet (3 m). The aircraft then rose to an altitude of about 100 feet (30 m) and then stalled and crashed. [1] A few seconds later, fire broke out in the wreckage of the airliner. [4] One of the passengers managed to escape on his own. The pilot was pulled from the wreckage by one of the two mechanics. Villagers rushed to the aid of the victims, but the survivors had all escaped from the wreckage by the time the first of them arrived. Two of the passengers, who were returning from honeymoon in Paris, were killed. The injured were taken to the West Kent Hospital, Maidstone. [6]

An inquest was opened by the Cranbrook Coroner on 12 February at Pagehurst Farm, Staplehurst into the deaths of the victims. Witnesses gave evidence of the failure of the starboard elevator. The inquest was adjourned initially to 13 March in the expectation that the crew of the aircraft would be fit enough to attend. [4] The inquest resumed on 28 March at Staplehurst. Evidence was produced to show that the aircraft was airworthy when it departed Paris, and that the actions of the crew were correct. The 1921-built aircraft had been completely overhauled and had returned to service in 1929, [3] following the ditching in 1925. [2] The cause of death in each case was shock and smoke inhalation. [4] A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned in both cases. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Green</span> Human settlement in England

Golden Green is a village in the Medway valley near Tonbridge, Kent. It is 1 mile (1.6 km) from the larger village of Hadlow and 4 miles (6 km) from the town of Tonbridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Farman F.60 Goliath</span> French airliner and bomber

The Farman F.60 Goliath was a French airliner and bomber 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1922 Picardie mid-air collision</span>

The 1922 Picardie mid-air collision took place on 7 April 1922 over Picardie, France, involving British and French passenger-carrying biplanes. The midair collision occurred in foggy conditions. A British aircraft flying from Croydon to Paris with only mail on board collided with a French aircraft flying three passengers from Paris to Croydon, which resulted in seven deaths.

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.

Compagnie des messageries aériennes was a pioneering French airline which was in operation from 1919–23, when it was merged with Grands Express Aériens to form Air Union.

Air Union was a French airline established January 1, 1923, as the result of a merger between the airlines Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes and Compagnie des Grands Express Aériens. Air Union was merged with four other French airlines to become Air France on 7 October 1933.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penshurst Airfield</span> Airfield in Leigh, UK

Penshurst Airfield was an airfield in operation between 1916–36 and 1940–46. Initially a military airfield, after the First World War it was used as an alternate destination to Croydon Airport, with some civil flying taking place. The airfield closed following the crash of a Flying Flea at an air display in 1936, and was converted to a polo ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">October 1926 Air Union Blériot 155 crash</span>

The 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 crew members and all five passengers were killed. This was the first in-flight fire occurring on an airliner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">August 1926 Air Union Blériot 155 crash</span>

The August 1926 Air Union Blériot 155 crash happened on 18 August 1926 at Hurst, Kent when Blériot 155 F-AIEB of Air Union hit a barn and crashed whilst attempting to make a forced landing in bad weather. Two passengers were killed in the accident, and the pilot died a day later.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1947 Croydon Dakota accident</span> 1947 aviation accident

The 1947 Croydon Dakota accident occurred on 25 January 1947 when a Spencer Airways Douglas C-47A Skytrain (Dakota) failed to get airborne from Croydon Airport near London, and crashed into a parked and empty ČSA Douglas C-47 destroying both aircraft and killing 11 passengers and one crew member.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1934 Hillman's Airways de Havilland Dragon Rapide crash</span> 1934 plane crash in the English Channel

The 1934 Hillman's Airways de Havilland Dragon Rapide crash occurred on 2 October 1934 when a de Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide of Hillman's Airways crashed into the English Channel off Folkestone, Kent, killing all seven people on board. The aircraft was operating an international scheduled passenger flight from Abridge Aerodrome to Le Bourget Airport, Paris. The accident resulted in the first write-off of a Dragon Rapide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1929 Imperial Airways Handley Page W.10 crash</span> 1929 ditching into the English Channel

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.

Marden Airfield was an airfield in Marden, Kent, United Kingdom. It was operation from 1917 to 1935. Initially a Royal Flying Corps airfield during the First World War it was used post-war as an Emergency Landing Strip, RAF Marden by the Royal Air Force. It was also known as Pagehurst Emergency Landing Ground. Later serving as a civil Emergency Landing Ground, the airfield closed in 1935. The site housed a Royal Air Force transmitter station during the Second World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meopham air disaster</span> 1930 crash caused by tailplane failure

The Meopham Air Disaster occurred on 21 July 1930 when a Junkers F.13ge flying from Le Touquet to Croydon with two crew and four passengers crashed near Meopham, Kent with the loss of all on board. The report of the inquiry into the accident was made public, the first time in the United Kingdom that an accident report was published.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1929 Luft Hansa Junkers G 24 crash</span> 1929 plane crash near Godstone, Surrey, England

The 1929 Luft Hansa Junkers G.24 crash occurred on 6 November 1929 when a Junkers G 24 of Luft Hansa crashed at Godstone, Surrey, United Kingdom while on an international scheduled flight from Croydon, Surrey, United Kingdom to Amsterdam-Schiphol Municipal Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Of the eight people on board, Glen Kidston was the only survivor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">August 1923 Air Union Farman Goliath crash</span>

The August 1923 Air Union Farman Goliath crash occurred on 27 August 1923 when a Farman F.60 Goliath of Air Union crashed at East Malling, Kent, United Kingdom following an engine failure and reported panic amongst the passengers. One person was killed and nine were injured.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">May 1923 Air Union Farman Goliath crash</span>

The May 1923 Air Union Farman Goliath crash occurred on 14 May 1923 when Farman F.60 Goliath F-AEBY of Air Union crashed at Monsures, Somme, France following the structural failure of a wing in flight. All six people on board were killed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1923 Daimler Airway de Havilland DH.34 crash</span>

The 1923 Daimler Airway de Havilland DH.34 crash occurred on 14 September 1923 when a de Havilland DH.34 of Daimler Airway operating a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Croydon to Manchester crashed at Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire, England, killing all five people on board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1934 London, Scottish & Provincial Airways Airspeed Courier crash</span> 1934 crash caused by pilot error

On 29 September 1934, an Airspeed Courier of London, Scottish & Provincial Airways Ltd crashed just north of Shoreham, Kent. The aircraft was on a scheduled international passenger flight from Heston Aerodrome west of London to Le Bourget Airport, Paris. All four people on board were killed. Two people were injured by flying débris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1921 SNETA Farman Goliath ditching</span>

The 1921 SNETA Farman Goliath ditching occurred on 26 August 1921 when a Farman F.60 Goliath of Syndicat National d'Étude des Transports Aériens ditched in the North Sea off the coast of Belgium. The aircraft was operating a mail flight from Croydon Airport, United Kingdom to Brussels-Evere Airport, Belgium. The aircraft was later salvaged, repaired and returned to service.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Plane Crash". The Marden History Group. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 "FRENCH PRE-WAR REGISTER Version 270609" (PDF). Air Britain. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "The French Air Liner Crash – Verdict of Accidental Death". The Times. No. 45474. London. 29 March 1930. col C, p. 9.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "The Kent Aeroplane Accident – Eyewitnesses' Evidence of the Crash". The Times. No. 45436. London. 13 March 1930. col F, p. 9.
  5. "A Goliath Crashes in Kent". Flight (14 February 1930): 217.
  6. 1 2 "Air Accident in Kent – French Liner's Crash – Honeymoon Couple Killed". The Times. No. 45434. London. 11 February 1930. col D, p. 14.