1952 Farnborough Airshow DH.110 crash
Encyclopedia
The 1952 Farnborough DH.110
crash was an air show accident that killed 29 spectators, the pilot (John Derry
), and the onboard flight test observer (Anthony Richards) when during a manoeuvre
, the aircraft broke up due to a faulty wing leading edge design. The DH.110 was grounded and strict safety procedures were subsequently enacted (no member of the public has been killed at a British air show
since).
Following a low-level supersonic
flypast
and during a left bank at ~450 knots (833 km/h) toward the air show's 120,000 spectators, the pilot started a climb. The outer starboard wing and, immediately afterward, the outer port wing broke off the aircraft; followed by both engines and the cockpit—the latter injuring several spectators. One engine broke into two sections and "ploughed into ... Observation Hill", injuring and killing numerous other spectators.
Following the accident the air display programme continued once the debris was cleared from the runway with Neville Duke
exhibiting the prototype Hawker Hunter
and taking it supersonic over the show later that day.
, the Minister of Supply
, sent messages of condolences, and jets at air show
s were obliged to keep at least 230 m (754.6 ft) from crowds if flying straight and 450 m (1,476.4 ft) when performing manoeuvres and always at an altitude of at least 150 m (492.1 ft).
The coroners jury recorded the deaths of Derry and Richards as "died accidentally in the normal course
of their duty." Of the spectators killed the jury recorded that "the deaths were accidental" adding that "no blame is attached to Mr. John Derry". The accident report of 8 April 1953 stated the manoeuvring had caused an airframe
instability due to a faulty D-nose leading edge arrangement (which had successfully been used in the lighter subsonic de Havilland Vampire
). The redesigned DH.110 resumed flights in June 1953 and was eventually developed into the successful de Havilland Sea Vixen
naval fighter.
De Havilland Sea Vixen
The de Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen was a twin boom 1950s–1960s British two-seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm designed by de Havilland. Developed from an earlier first generation jet fighter, the Sea Vixen was a capable carrier-based fleet defence fighter that served into the 1970s...
crash was an air show accident that killed 29 spectators, the pilot (John Derry
John Derry
John Douglas Derry DFC was a British test pilot, and was the first Briton to exceed the speed of sound...
), and the onboard flight test observer (Anthony Richards) when during a manoeuvre
Aerobatic maneuver
Aerobatic maneuvers are flight paths putting aircraft in unusual attitudes, in air shows, dog fights or competition aerobatics. Aerobatics can be performed by a single aircraft or in formation with several others...
, the aircraft broke up due to a faulty wing leading edge design. The DH.110 was grounded and strict safety procedures were subsequently enacted (no member of the public has been killed at a British air show
Air show
An air show is an event at which aviators display their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft to spectators in aerobatics. Air shows without aerobatic displays, having only aircraft displayed parked on the ground, are called "static air shows"....
since).
Crash
The planned demonstration of the DH.110 on that day was nearly cancelled when the aircraft at Farnborough, an all-black nightfighter prototype went unserviceable. It had been taken supersonic over the show on the opening day. Derry and Richards left Farnborough to collect WG 236 and flew it from Hatfield to Farnborough with just enough time to start their slot.Following a low-level supersonic
Supersonic
Supersonic speed is a rate of travel of an object that exceeds the speed of sound . For objects traveling in dry air of a temperature of 20 °C this speed is approximately 343 m/s, 1,125 ft/s, 768 mph or 1,235 km/h. Speeds greater than five times the speed of sound are often...
flypast
Flypast
Flypast is a term used in the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth, and other countries to denote ceremonial or honorific flights by groups of aircraft and, rarely, by a single aircraft...
and during a left bank at ~450 knots (833 km/h) toward the air show's 120,000 spectators, the pilot started a climb. The outer starboard wing and, immediately afterward, the outer port wing broke off the aircraft; followed by both engines and the cockpit—the latter injuring several spectators. One engine broke into two sections and "ploughed into ... Observation Hill", injuring and killing numerous other spectators.
Following the accident the air display programme continued once the debris was cleared from the runway with Neville Duke
Neville Duke
Squadron Leader Neville Frederick Duke DSO, OBE, DFC & Two Bars, AFC, FRAeS,Czech War Cross was a British Second World War fighter pilot. He was the top Allied flying ace in the Mediterranean Theatre, having shot down at least 27 enemy aircraft, and was acknowledged as one of the world's foremost...
exhibiting the prototype Hawker Hunter
Hawker Hunter
The Hawker Hunter is a subsonic British jet aircraft developed in the 1950s. The single-seat Hunter entered service as a manoeuvrable fighter aircraft, and later operated in fighter-bomber and reconnaissance roles in numerous conflicts. Two-seat variants remained in use for training and secondary...
and taking it supersonic over the show later that day.
Aftermath
Both The Queen and Duncan SandysDuncan Sandys
Edwin Duncan Sandys, Baron Duncan-Sandys CH PC was a British politician and a minister in successive Conservative governments in the 1950s and 1960s...
, the Minister of Supply
Minister of Supply
The Minister of Supply was the minister in the British Government responsible for the Ministry of Supply, which existed to co-ordinate the supply of equipment to the national armed forces...
, sent messages of condolences, and jets at air show
Air show
An air show is an event at which aviators display their flying skills and the capabilities of their aircraft to spectators in aerobatics. Air shows without aerobatic displays, having only aircraft displayed parked on the ground, are called "static air shows"....
s were obliged to keep at least 230 m (754.6 ft) from crowds if flying straight and 450 m (1,476.4 ft) when performing manoeuvres and always at an altitude of at least 150 m (492.1 ft).
The coroners jury recorded the deaths of Derry and Richards as "died accidentally in the normal course
of their duty." Of the spectators killed the jury recorded that "the deaths were accidental" adding that "no blame is attached to Mr. John Derry". The accident report of 8 April 1953 stated the manoeuvring had caused an airframe
Airframe
The airframe of an aircraft is its mechanical structure. It is typically considered to include fuselage, wings and undercarriage and exclude the propulsion system...
instability due to a faulty D-nose leading edge arrangement (which had successfully been used in the lighter subsonic de Havilland Vampire
De Havilland Vampire
The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
). The redesigned DH.110 resumed flights in June 1953 and was eventually developed into the successful de Havilland Sea Vixen
De Havilland Sea Vixen
The de Havilland DH.110 Sea Vixen was a twin boom 1950s–1960s British two-seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm designed by de Havilland. Developed from an earlier first generation jet fighter, the Sea Vixen was a capable carrier-based fleet defence fighter that served into the 1970s...
naval fighter.
External links
- http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1952/1952%20-%202678.html Contemporary reporting