Date:	Saturday 1 February 1964
Time:	day
Type:	Druine D.31 Turbulent
Owner/operator:	James Dennis Lawther
Registration:	G-APMZ
MSN:	PFA/481
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	Clements Farm, Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland -   United Kingdom
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Newtownards, Co. Down (EGAD)
Destination airport:
Confidence Rating:	Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

Narrative:
Druine D.31 Turbulent G-APMZ: First registered (C of R 6340/1) 17.4.58 to Rollason Aircraft & Engines Ltd., Croydon Airport, Croydon, Surrey. Registration cancelled ("Change of Ownership of Aircraft") 2.6.59. Sold on and re-registered (C of R 6340/2) 10.6.59 to Norman Herbert Jones (The Tiger Club), Claygate, Surrey. Registration cancelled 4.3.63. Sold on and re-registered 13.3.63 to James Dennis Lawther, Dundonald, Belfast, Norther Ireland.

Written off (damaged beyond repair) 1.2.64 when crashed on take off at Clements Farm, Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland, killing the pilot, Mr. D. E. Cooke.

According to a contemporary report in "Flight International" (dated 8.10.64), the accident was caused by a bird strike - the bird in question being a seagull, which hit the windscreen of G-APMZ and also struck the pilot. The AAIB report notes that "blood, which was not of human origin, was found on the windscreen of the aircraft". The report goes on to note that G-APMZ may have "stalled as the pilot took avoiding action to prevent a head on collision with the seagull"

Registration cancelled as "aircraft destroyed" 1.2.64

1. Report on the Accident to Druine Turbulent G-APMZ Near Newtownards Aerodrome, Belfast, on 1st February, 1964: Ministry of Aviation. Accidents Investigation Branch. Publisher H.M. Stationery Office, 1964: https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Report_on_the_Accident_to_Druine_Turbule.html?id=FmH1xwEACAAJ&redir_esc=y
2. The British Civil Aircraft Registered G-APAA to G-APZZ (Bernard Martin, Air Britain, 1978 p.45)
3. https://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?79866-Rollason-Turbulent
4. https://cwsprduksumbraco.blob.core.windows.net/g-info/HistoricalLedger/G-APMZ-1.pdf
5. https://cwsprduksumbraco.blob.core.windows.net/g-info/HistoricalLedger/G-APMZ-2.pdf
6. https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1964/1964
7. https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/view/1284891/
8. https://www.airteamimages.com/druine-turbulent_G-APMZ_-private_107768_large.html
9. https://www.airhistory.net/photo/429302/G-APMZ [G-APMZ at Fairoaks (EGTF) 1.8.60]
10. https://www.key.aero/comment/893070#comment-893070
11. https://mapcarta.com/W1042330940

I had the privilege of owning G-ARMZ for a few years in the 1980's. I flew it from Gransden. A gorgeously simple aeroplane, I always likened it to an aerial motorbike. At the same time I owned G-APMZ; but I believe both crashed after I sold them on. Oh, Happy Days :) https://t.co/83O4G2dq5N

— Lloyd Owens (@happyincyprus) November 5, 2020

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
22-Jul-2009 02:42	VHKDK	Added
11-Dec-2011 14:33	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Operator, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative]
03-Jun-2012 06:11	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Location, Narrative]
25-May-2014 23:49	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Operator, Departure airport, Source, Narrative]
17-Oct-2017 17:11	Michael	Updated [Operator, Narrative]