1930 Air Union Farman Goliath crash
Encyclopedia
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.
, passing in February 1924 to Compagnie Air Union. On 14 November 1925, it had ditched 7½ miles (12 km) off Boulogne
and had been badly damaged. The aircraft was given a complete overhaul, returning to service in 1929. The rebuilt aircraft was classified as a F.63 Goliath.
. 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 plug
s were changed as a precaution and the aircraft departed for Croydon again.
After the aircraft had passed Staplehurst
, a snapping noise came from the tailplane
and the aircraft lost 2000 feet (609.6 m) in altitude. The starboard tailplane had failed. One of the mechanics told the passengers that an emergency landing was to be attempted. The passengers were asked to move to the rear of the cabin. Just before 1 pm, 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 (30.5 m) and then stalled and crashed. A few seconds later, fire broke out in the wreckage of the airliner. 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
.
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. 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, following the ditching in 1925. The cause of death in each case was shock and smoke inhalation. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned in both cases.
Air Union
Air Union was a French airline established 1 January 1923 as the result of a merger between the airlines Compagnie des Messageries Aériennes and Compagnie des Grands Express Aériens...
crashed whilst attempting an emergency landing at Marden Airfield
Marden Airfield
Marden Airfield was an airfield in Marden, Kent, United Kingdom. It was operation from 1917 to 1935. Initially a Royal Flying Corps airfield during World War I 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...
, Kent following the failure of the starboard tailplane. Two of the six people on board were killed.
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was Farman F.63 Goliath F-FHMY, c/n 267. The aircraft was built as a F.60 Goliath and registered in April 1921 to Compagnie des Grands Express AériensGrands Express Aériens
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....
, passing in February 1924 to Compagnie Air Union. On 14 November 1925, it had ditched 7½ miles (12 km) off Boulogne
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
and had been badly damaged. The aircraft was given a complete overhaul, returning to service in 1929. The rebuilt aircraft was classified as a F.63 Goliath.
Accident
The aircraft departed Le Bourget at 10:40 am bound for CroydonCroydon Airport
Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...
. 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 plug
Spark plug
A spark plug is an electrical device that fits into the cylinder head of some internal combustion engines and ignites compressed fuels such as aerosol, gasoline, ethanol, and liquefied petroleum gas by means of an electric spark.Spark plugs have an insulated central electrode which is connected by...
s were changed as a precaution and the aircraft departed for Croydon again.
After the aircraft had passed Staplehurst
Staplehurst
Staplehurst can mean:* Staplehurst in England* RAF Staplehurst, a World War II airfield in England* Staplehurst railway station* Staplehurst rail crash, a railway accident in 1865* Staplehurst, Nebraska, a small village in the United States...
, a snapping noise came from the tailplane
Tailplane
A tailplane, also known as horizontal stabilizer , is a small lifting surface located on the tail behind the main lifting surfaces of a fixed-wing aircraft as well as other non-fixed wing aircraft such as helicopters and gyroplanes...
and the aircraft lost 2000 feet (609.6 m) in altitude. The starboard tailplane had failed. One of the mechanics told the passengers that an emergency landing was to be attempted. The passengers were asked to move to the rear of the cabin. Just before 1 pm, as the aircraft attempted to land at Marden Airfield
Marden Airfield
Marden Airfield was an airfield in Marden, Kent, United Kingdom. It was operation from 1917 to 1935. Initially a Royal Flying Corps airfield during World War I 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...
, 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 (30.5 m) and then stalled and crashed. A few seconds later, fire broke out in the wreckage of the airliner. 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
Maidstone
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, England, south-east of London. The River Medway runs through the centre of the town linking Maidstone to Rochester and the Thames Estuary. Historically, the river was a source and route for much of the town's trade. Maidstone was the centre of the agricultural...
.
An inquest was opened by the Cranbrook
Cranbrook, Kent
Cranbrook is a small town in Kent in South East England which was granted a charter in 1290 by Archbishop Peckham, allowing it to hold a market in the High Street. Located on the Maidstone to Hastings road, it is five miles north of Hawkhurst. The smaller settlements of Swattenden, Colliers...
Coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
on 12 February at Pagehurst Farm, Staplehurst
Staplehurst
Staplehurst can mean:* Staplehurst in England* RAF Staplehurst, a World War II airfield in England* Staplehurst railway station* Staplehurst rail crash, a railway accident in 1865* Staplehurst, Nebraska, a small village in the United States...
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. 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, following the ditching in 1925. The cause of death in each case was shock and smoke inhalation. A verdict of "Accidental Death" was returned in both cases.