ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 25017
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Sunday 9 October 1932 |
| Time: | day |
| Type: |  de Havilland DH.60X Moth |
| Owner/operator: | Northern Air Lines (Manchester) Ltd |
| Registration: | G-EBZU |
| MSN: | 686 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Higher Irlam, Lancashire -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Barton, Salford, Lancashire |
| Hooton Park, Wirral, Cheshire |
DH.60X [Cirrus II] registered G-EBZU [C of R 1693] 23.7.28 to The De Havilland Aircraft Co Ltd and operated by the DH School of Flying, Stag Lane. C of A 1527 issued 28.7.28. At 14:00 on 18.7.29, G-EBZU was the first ever aircraft to land on the Scottish Island of Tiree (see link #4).
Sold 30.4.29 and re-registered [C of R 2069] 21.6.29 to Northern Air Transport Ltd, Wythenshawe (relocated to Barton with effect from 31.1.30); operated by subsidiary Northern Air Lines [Manchester] Ltd. Receiver appointed to Northern Air Transport Ltd 18.11.31, but Moth remained operated by subsidiary.
Written off when spun in and crashed at Higher Irlam, Lancashire 9.10.32 shortly after take-off from Barton; pilot C.S.G. Homewood injured, his wife Olga Homewood was killed. According to contemporary local newspaper report (Cadishead and Irlam Guardian October 15, 1932):
"FLIGHT'S TRAGIC ENDING.
PLANE (Moth G-EBZU.) WRECKED AT HIGHER IRLAM.
An intended pleasure flight in a Cirrus moth aeroplane from Barton Moss Airport to Hooton Aerodrome, Wirral, on Sunday afternoon had a tragic ending by the crashing of the plane in the back garden of a house, on Boundary Road, on the housing estate of the Urban District Council at Higher Irlam. The flight was arranged to celebrate the 28th birthday of Mr. Leslie Graham Homewood, a civil engineer, engaged by a London firm on the construction of new rod mills and tar macadam plant on the works of the Lancashire Steel Corporation, Limited.
He, acting as his own pilot, being the holder of a Class A certificate in aviation, was accompanied by his wife, who had journeyed from London to stay with him for the week-end at the Airport Hotel, Barton Moss, where he had lived in apartments for three or four months.
He was well known at the Airport as an experienced flier, having taken friends with him on previous pleasure flight, including one of his directors only a fortnight previously, when there was a slight mishap without any damage or injury being done.
He and his wife had intended visiting the aerodrome at Hooton for tea and returning early in the evening, and were accompanied in another similar plane by Mr. Robert Lowe, a civil engineer working at Davyhulme, and Mr. Pratt, of Stretford, who were friends.
DEVELOPED A SPIN.
The aeroplane took off well at the start and reached an altitude of between 800 and 1,000 feet very quickly. Irlam was approached wide of the housing estate at Higher Irlam, which is about two miles from the Airport. When opposite the estate it was noticed that the plane took a diagonal direction and began to lower considerably as it approached the houses
It developed what is termed as "a spin," and people who had been noticing the flight came to the conclusion that the pilot was in difficulties. There were a few people out of doors on the large estate at the time, mostly children, and it is said that Mrs. Homewood, who occupied the front seat, her husband being at the controls in the rear, made frantic gestures to the young people, who regarded the waving of her hands more in the nature of a salute than a warning of danger of the impending collapse of the aeroplane.
Be that as it may, a few moments later, a wing of the machine caught the roofing tile of the back portion of the house occupied by Mr. and Mrs Whalley, Boundary Road. Then it seemed to turn turtle (turn upside down) and nose-dived into the garden at the rear of next door occupied by Mrs Lockett and her son, William Lockett.
The machine had turned completely round and faced, after it crashed, in the opposite direction to that which it had been flying, and the front part was embedded in the ground. It was obvious to observers that Mrs. Homewood, who was sitting in front, would have met with instant death.
A TERRIBLE SPECTACLE.
The wrecked plane and the two occupants buried beneath was a terrible spectacle. A large throng of people instantly congregated and Dr. Walker was early on the scene. The pilot was first rescued. It was seen that he was badly injured and his first words on being extricated were "What about my poor girl?" He was kept in ignorance of the fate of his unfortunate companion, and conveyed in the Urban Council ambulance, first to Eccles and Patricroft Hospital, where there were no beds at liberty, and then to Park Hospital, Davyhulme.
He frequently inquired for "his girl" and "his wife" during the journey and while he was in a cottage nearby the scene awaiting the arrival of the ambulance. The body of Mrs. Homewood was conveyed to the mortuary at the Council Offices to await the inquest. Mr. Lowe and Mr. Pratt, who were flying in the wake of the ill-fated plane, witnessed the tragic occurrence from the air and immediately flew back to the Airport to summon assistance.
The Airport Fire Brigade was immediately dispatched, though its services were not required. The petrol tank of the crashed plane had burst and there was a possibility of fire, as happened on May 24th, when a Royal Air Force machine from the R.A.F. aerodrome at Sealand, near Chester, crashed at the Airport and Leading Aircraftsman Lane was killed and Flight-Sergeant Trenwell was so badly burned that he died in hospital a short time afterwards.
WHAT SPECTATORS SAW
Many spectators had watched the flight of the fateful plane, and others which were in the air at the time, and it was seen from the wobbling of his machine Homewood was in difficulties. Mr. J. Marchment of Boundary Road, said to a "Guardian" representative: " I was stood at the window of my sitting room about 15 minutes to four when I noticed an aeroplane coming in this direction. It was first at a moderate height, and then suddenly began to lower. It seemed to turn more towards the houses and developed into a kind of spin. I was attracted by this spin, and thought 'Is he trying to amuse the spectators or what?' Personally, I did not like it, and the thought of an accident had no sooner entered my head than I heard a loud bang followed almost immediately afterwards by a terrific crash. I knew then that something serious had happened.
Mr. John Harper, of Mond Road, some distance away, had followed the progress of the plane after realising that the pilot was in difficulties. He was standing at the back door when the two planes approached. The first one suddenly turned to the left and made two or three definite spins. "I knew it was no stunt," he added, "and my suspicions were confirmed by the tragic happening soon afterwards."
Mr. Stan Crawford, a resident of The Crescent, said he noticed the aeroplane, while out for a walk on the Flixton side of the Ship Canal. He said to his companion when they saw the plane spin, he was sure the pilot was in difficulties.
The crash came almost immediately afterwards and he judged it would be on the estate. Mr. Crawford said they were accustomed to planes flying low, but not spinning in the manner this did before the crash.
TRYING TO RETURN.
The theory has been advanced that the pilot, finding that the plane was not behaving as he would have liked, had decided to abandon the flight to Hooton and was in the act of trying to return to the Airport when the crash came.
This theory is supported by the fact that the plane had left the track for Hooton when first observed to be in difficulties. But had a right-hand turn been made instead of a left the housing estate would have been missed and the risk averted of the plane catching a roof. The turn in the opposite direction would have given the plane the open Moss. The view is strongly held by fliers that if the plane had got clear of the houses, it would have had a chance of righting itself
Mr. Robert Lowe, who was piloting a similar machine, flying about 500 yards behind Mr. Homewood, said soon after leaving the Airport, Mr. Homewood for some reason or other, banked steeply into a turn. "He seemed to me to turn too sharply, with the result that his machine stalled and immediately afterwards got into a spin.
A second or two before the crash it seemed to be starting to straighten out of the spin, but the pilot had no time to flatten it out. I turned my machine and raced back to the Airport at more than 100 miles an hour. I could see from the air that Mr Homewood's machine was wrecked.
CORONER'S INSPECTION AND INQUIRY
Mr. R. Stuart Rodger, county district coroner, made the inspection of the scene of the crash, on Monday, accompanied by the police. He made a minute examination of the wrecked plane and later in the day formally opened the inquest at Park Hospital, Davyhulme.
Mr. and Mrs. Homewood, the parents of the injured pilot lying at the hospital, left Fulham, London, midnight, on Sunday, to visit their son and reached the institution between seven and eight a.m. Mrs. Homewood told the "Guardian" that her son had a broken jaw, and she was inclined to the opinion that his cheekbone was also fractured, besides a broken ankle. His left eye was also bruised and badly discoloured. He was quite conscious and asked about his wife of whose fate he was kept in ignorance. The news of the tragedy was a terrible shock to his parents.
Her son was last at home about a fortnight ago with his wife and they seemed quite happy and comfortable. She was quite aware of her daughter-in-law and followed her employment in Bond Street, London, at a millinery establishment. While her son was staying at the Airport Hotel, Barton Moss, during the time he was engaged on a contract with the Lancashire Steel Corporation Ltd, at Irlam.
He is supervising for John Gill and Co., public works contractors the construction of new rod mills and tar macadam plant at the Steel Works. He has had a wide experience of similar work in Egypt and the Iraq Government.
The coroner sympathetically questioned both Mr. and Mrs. Homewood as to whether the dead woman and the injured pilot were man and wife and, after hearing their statement, said he was satisfied and would issue the burial order in the name of Olga Homewood.
PARENT'S EVIDENCE.
Mr. Ashley Spencer Homewood, an actor of The Drive, Fulham, London said his son was 28 years of age on Sunday, and was a civil engineer employed by John Gill Ltd, public works contractors. He had a commission in the Royal Engineers Territorials and flew as an observer. He had been flying for many years and he knew that Olga - the victim of the tragedy - who was 23 years of age had accompanied him on several pleasure flight. The couple had known each other intimately for seven years. She often visited them and was friendly with the family. Her maiden name was Shreiber and she was employed in a millinery establishment.
The investigation by an expert representative from the Air Ministry has been completed, official photographs of the scene and of the plane have been taken and it is the coroner's intention of seeking the fullest possible inquiry when the inquest is resumed.
INJURED PILOT'S POPULARITY.
The injured pilot is well known and popular among the staff of the Lancashire Steel Corporation Ltd., and among the regular habitues of the Airport. He has recounted to friends, interesting experiences at home and abroad. He had often spoke about his wife, and said it was his intention to bring Mrs Homewood from London to stay with him in the district. He had made inquiries in Cadishead for apartments. His wife had visited him at week-ends on many occasions at the Airport Hotel, where he stayed, and they were a favourite couple of the Airport. She was evidently as fond of flying and motoring as he was. They had many pleasure runs in his car as well as flights in the air and the tragedy has occasioned general regret and sympathy among a large circle of friends.
Cadishead and Irlam Guardian October 22nd 1932
LOCAL NOTES By "QUI VIVE"
The aeroplane tragedy at Higher Irlam on Sunday afternoon has been much discussed. It was a most distressing ending to an intended pleasure flight to Hooton, Wirral, to celebrate the young pilot's 28th birthday. Both he and his wife had been flying earlier in the day.
Earlier Leslie Graham Homewood had made inquiries for apartments for himself and his wife in Cadishead, but was unsuccessful. He himself stayed at the Airport Hotel, Barton Moss and was occasionally visited by Mrs Homewood at week-ends.
They were a happy couple, and had made many friends at the hotel and at the airport, which they visited occasionally and had pleasure flights. They also visited places of amusement in Manchester and Liverpool by car, being as fond of motoring as flying.
It is a great pity a pleasure flight should have been cut short so tragically. The body of Mrs. Homewood was removed from the mortuary at the Council Offices on Wednesday and buried in London on Thursday - the same day as the sad news of his wife's fate was broken to the injured pilot in Park Hospital, Davyhulme, by his mother, who has visited her son's bedside twice daily.
Mrs. Homewood told me on Monday after first seeing her son that she believed he would get better - he had such a firm grip of the hand. He recognised both his mother and his father and repeatedly inquired about his wife.
Mothers in particular will sympathize very much with Mrs. Homewood in the terrible ordeal she has passed through - concealing the sad news from her son for three days for fear it should hinder his recovery. When it was at length revealed he bore up remarkably well. The shocking death of his young wife to whom he was so lovingly attached, will occasion much sorrow for a long time.
I have ascertained that Leslie Graham Homewood was popular among all the staff at the steelworks who had made his acquaintance and similarly at the airport, where he was well known. He held a Class A pilot's certificate, and the cause of the sad tragedy will not be known until the adjourned inquest, the date of which has not yet been fixed.
The wrecked aeroplane has been minutely inspected by the coroner and an expert from the Air Ministry, and the actual cause of the spin and later crash can only at present be a matter for conjecture.
THE AEROPLANE TRAGEDY
FUNERAL OF THE VICTIM
INQUEST AND VERDICT.
The body of Mrs. Olga Homewood, who was killed as a result of the aeroplane crash at Higher Irlam, on the previous Sunday afternoon was interned on Saturday, at Fulham Cemetary, London, following a service at the Russian Church, Ebury Bridge, S.W., full details of the tragedy were reported in the "Guardian" last week.
Leslie Graham Homewood, the pilot of the Cirrus moth plane that crashed, is still a patient in Park Hospital, Davyhulme, and his condition was so serious that it was deemed inadvisable to acquaint him of the fate of his wife until Thursday.
He has been visited twice daily by his mother, and she had the painful duty of breaking the news to her son. He was too ill to attend the funeral, but sent a wreath of roses and orchids, with a card bearing these words "Olga, my beloved - Graham."
A prominent place was given to another wreath of roses with the words "Deepest sympathy and love" from Mr. and Mrs. Homewood, parents of the injured pilot, who were both present. The mourners also included Mrs. Shrieber, mother, and Mr. Nicholas Shrieber, brother of the victim of the tragedy, who contributed a cross of red and white roses with the words " In ever loving memory of our beloved Olga."
The late Rear Admiral N. Shrieber, of the Russian Navy, who died last year, was the father of Mrs. Homewood.
THE RESUMED INQUEST.
Leslie Graham Homewood, the injured pilot, has made more rapid progress at Park Hospital, Davyhulme, than had been at first anticipated.
The care of Dr. Preston and the visits of his mother twice daily since the occurrence have doubtless, been a contributing factor. He was a pathetic figure yesterday afternoon at the resumed inquest at Park Hospital, relative to his wife, who was killed in the crash. Mr. R, Stuart Rodger, county district coroner, opened the inquest the day after the occurrence, and took the evidence of Mr. and Mrs Homewood, the parents of the injured pilot of 74, The Drive, Fulham. It was reported in last Saturday's "Guardian," with full details of the tragedy.
AN EXPERT FLYER.
Mr. Ashley Spencer Homewood, an actor, of 74, The Drive, Fulham, London, said his son was 28 years of age on the day of the tragedy. He was a civil engineer employed by John Gill Ltd, public works contractors, London and was engaged on a contract by that firm on the works of the Lancashire Steel Corporation, Ltd., at Irlam. He had been staying at the Airport Hotel, Barton Moss. He was accustomed to flying holding a commission in the Royal Engineers Territorials and flew as an observer. His son had been flying for many years, and he (witness) knew that Olga - the victim of the tragedy - who was 23 years of age, had accompanied him on several previous pleasure flights.
Edward Morrison of Boundary Road, Irlam, said he was in his garden and saw the plane at a height of 200 feet. The pilot appeared to be in some sort of trouble and tried to turn from the easterly direction in which he was going. He swerved two or three times, and then spun round. Shortly afterwards the crash occurred.
OTHER PILOT'S VIEW.
Robert Edgar Lowe, pilot of another plane which took off at the same time as the wrecked one said his machine rose to 1,000 feet, and the other was 100 feet below. He saw that Homewood was in difficulties and got into a spin. An attempt was made to rectify it but the plane was too low.
The injured pilot who was wheeled into the room on an ambulance bed made a pathetic figure. At a height of 1,200 feet, he said the rudder failed, and he got into a spin. After a few agonising moments he remembered nothing more.
The coroner returned a verdict of "Accidental death" expressing sympathy with the injured man and the two families".
Registration cancelled by/on 31.12.32 due to "destruction or permanent withdrawal from use of aircraft".
Sources:
1. National Archives (PRO Kew) File AVIA 5/14/C234: https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C6576702
2. http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-EBZU.pdf
3. https://www.afleetingpeace.org/index.php/page-great-bitain-registers-g-eb/g-eb-part-2?highlight=WyJnLWVienUiXQ==
4. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/reg_G-E4.html
5. http://www.aniodhlann.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/publications/exhibitions/Winds%20of%20Change%20-%20flights%20and%20weather.pdf
6. https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-de-havilland-dh60x-moth-irlam-1-killed
7. http://www.ab-ix.co.uk/dh60.pdf
8. https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1450828
9. Photo and press report of accident: https://www.flickr.com/photos/77779370@N02/16075293205
10. http://www.rcawsey.co.uk/Acc1934.htm
11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_Irlam_and_Peel_Green_(ward)
Location
Media:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 27-Sep-2008 01:00 | ASN archive | Added |
| 29-Dec-2013 01:09 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Damage, Narrative] |
| 27-Aug-2017 15:10 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Source] |
| 27-Aug-2017 15:24 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 15-May-2020 13:48 | Sergey L. | Updated [Aircraft type, Source] |
| 14-Nov-2023 19:07 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Category] |
| 15-Nov-2023 07:25 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Embed code, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation