ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 70861
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 12 December 1943 |
| Time: | 14:28 |
| Type: |  de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito NF Mk II |
| Owner/operator: | 25 Sqn RAF |
| Registration: | DD754 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Flotmanby Carr, near Filey, Yorkshire, England -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | RAF Church Fenton, Yorkshire |
| RAF Church Fenton |
Mosquito DD754: Was one of two took off for a practice flight, and was leading the formation. 12/12/1943
During flight it pitched up in a steep climbing turn without warning and spun a couple of times, before diving into the ground near West Flotmanby, Filey, bursting into flames at 14:28 hrs.
Crew:
S/Ldr (33412) Colin ROBERTSON DFC (pilot) RAF - killed.
F/O (145496) Ernest BARTHOLOMEW (obs.) RAFVR - killed.
The unit was warned that their aircraft may be required to fly towards the Danish Coast to meet and provide fighter protection for a force of RAF bombers expected to be returning from a raid on Peenemunde in daylight the following day. Not being a day fighter squadron the crews were ordered off in pairs to practice mock combats in readiness. This incident occurred during the practice. The aircraft crashed into marshy ground, causing the crash investigation team problems which led to the reasons for the crash not being fully concluded.
According to the AM Form 1180 Air Accident Card, the aircraft "suddenly did a steep climbing turn without warning then did two spins to [the] right before hitting [the] ground & bursting into flames. CO: A/C utterly destroyed & recommends proper authorities to re-examine control system of Mosquito. OC, CofI: A/C & crew lost in marshy ground, complete lack of evidence available. Numerous possible complications [?] available. AIB theory:- pilot leaned forward to make some adjustment to an instrument with left hand (observed to do that) & his harness forced [?] control column causing sudden elevator movement when he straightened up."
The Air Investigation Branch [AIB] concluded that the sudden climb and high speed stall were such that "normal use of the controls could not effect immediate recovery", and "At the top of the turn the aircraft passed over the vertical, went into a spin, and after approximately two turns struck the ground at a steep angle inverted and burst into flames." [TNA AVIA 5/22/W1729]
Sources:
1. http://www.airhistory.org.uk/dh/_DH98%20prodn%20list.txtt
2. ORB 25 Sqdn RAF
3. AM Form 1180 Air Accident Card, RAF Museum
4. AIB Report, TNA AVIA 5/22/W1729
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 31-Dec-2009 05:08 | NePa | Added |
| 31-Jan-2010 10:28 | NePa | Updated [Narrative] |
| 08-Nov-2011 02:39 | Nepa | Updated [Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 24-Jun-2014 17:32 | Nepa | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Departure airport, Narrative] |
| 02-Aug-2015 20:17 | Nepa | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Narrative] |
| 31-Oct-2015 02:28 | angels one five | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Nature, Narrative] |
| 07-Dec-2015 17:33 | Jixn | Updated [Aircraft type, Source, Narrative] |
| 03-Feb-2019 20:37 | Nepa | Updated [Location, Narrative, Operator] |
| 04-Oct-2019 20:11 | angels one five | Updated [Time, Location, Destination airport, Narrative] |
| 30-Oct-2019 20:27 | Nepa | Updated [Location, Narrative, Operator] |
| 06-Jun-2021 11:11 | angels one five | Updated [Location, Narrative] |
| 01-Sep-2021 11:18 | TB | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Location, Source, Narrative, Operator] |
| 15-Jan-2022 21:55 | Nepa | Updated [Narrative, Operator] |
| 27-Apr-2022 06:49 | Steve Brew | Updated [Time, Source, Narrative, Photo] |
| 02-Jul-2022 21:21 | Nepa | Updated [Narrative, Operator] |
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