Date:	Thursday 26 November 1953
Time:	09:55 LT
Type:	English Electric Canberra B Mk 2
Owner/operator:	9 Sqn RAF
Registration:	WJ716
MSN:	71236
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	near Kirmond-le-Mire, 2.5 miles South of RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire
Destination airport:	RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
EE Canberra B.Mk.2 WJ716, 9 Squdron RAF: Notified as awaiting collection 31/8/1953, delivered 24/9/1953. Written off 26/11/1953: crash landed near Kirmond-le-Mire, two-and-a-half miles south of RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire.

The Canberra had overshot from a practice BABS (Blind Approach Beam system) approach to RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire, and then turned downwind of the airfield. At this point, both engines failed in quick succession; in response, the pilot made a MAYDAY distress call, and attempted to re-light both engines. Although the pilot successfully re-lit the port engine, the re-lit engine could only deliver limited power, which was not enough to keep the Canberra in the air. In this situation, the pilot selected a field at near Kirmond-le-Mire, two-and-a-half miles South of RAF Binbrook, Lincolnshire, and made a forced landing.

Crew:
Pilot - Flight Sergeant Platt OK.
Navigator - Flight Sergeant Elton OK.

According to the RAF Board of Inquiry, engine failure was attributed to pilot error - the pilot selected an empty fuel tank, causing the aircraft to run out of fuel. As noted above, both crew survived OK, but the Canberra was written off

Aircraft had only been delivered to the RAF on 24 September 1953 (after being exhibited as the 1953 SBAC Farnborough Air Show) and was thus in service for only two months!

The crash location of Kirmond le Mire is a small village and civil parish in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It is situated on the B1203 road, 6 miles east from Market Rasen and 11 miles south-west from Grimsby. It is in the civil parish of Thoresway.

1. Halley, James (1999) Broken Wings – Post-War Royal Air Force Accidents Tunbridge Wells: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. p.152 ISBN 0-85130-290-4.
2. Last Take-off: A Record of RAF Aircraft Losses 1950 to 1953 Colin Cummings p 431
3. Royal Air Force Aircraft WA100-WZ999 (James J Halley, Air Britain, 1985)
4. 9 Squadron ORB (Operations Record Book)(Air Ministry Form AM/F.540) for November 1953: National Archivres (PRO Kew) File AIR 27/2597/45 at https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8439612
5. http://www.bcar.org.uk/1950s-incident-logs#1953
6. https://www.key.aero/forum/historic-aviation/95295-canberra-wj716
7. http://ipmscanberrasig.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=100321700
8. http://www.farnboroughspotters.com/53.html
9. Canberra B.2 WJ716 on 1/10/1953: https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1559825
10. https://www.agefotostock.com/age/en/details-photo/english-electric-canberra-b2-wj716-with-bomb-bay-doors-open/MEV-10839716
11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirmond_le_Mire

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
15-Jun-2008 21:26	JINX	Added
17-Jun-2008 10:37	JINX	Updated
31-Oct-2008 12:56	Elton	Updated
29-Jan-2012 13:54	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative]
15-Aug-2012 08:00	Nepa	Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Location]
08-Apr-2013 22:47	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Location, Source, Narrative]
23-May-2021 19:08	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Location, Source, Narrative]
23-May-2021 19:09	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Narrative]