August 1926 Air Union Blériot 155 crash
Encyclopedia
The August 1926 Air Union Blériot 155 crash happened on 18 August 1926 at Hurst, Kent when Blériot 155
F-AIEB of Air Union
hit a barn and crashed whilst attempting to make a forced landing in bad weather. Two passengers were killed in the accident, and the pilot died a day later.
F-AIEB Wilbur Wright, c/n 2. The aircraft had been registered to Air Union on 27 June 1926, and had flown for 47¼ hours at the time of the accident.
, Paris at 12:30 pm local time
(11:30 GMT), bound for Croydon Airport
. On board were the pilot and his mechanic, and 13 passengers. At 1:56 pm GMT, a radio report was made to Saint-Inglevert
that the aircraft was crossing the coast at Berck-Plage
. The crossing of the English Channel
was made in conditions of poor visibility, with heavy drizzle. Reported weather conditions at Lympne at 1:15 pm GMT were continuous rain and fog, visibility 500 yards (457.2 m), cloudbase less than 150 feet (45.7 m). Visibility had halved in the preceding 20 minutes. It was reported that an engine failed as the aircraft crossed the English coast. At 2:30 pm GMT, the pilot attempted to make a forced landing in a large field at College Farm, Hurst, Aldington
, some 5 miles (8 km) west of Lympne Airport
. The aircraft clipped the roof of a barn and then hit three stacks
before crashing to the ground. The farmer and two farmhands were missed by 10 feet (3 m). Two of the 13 passengers were killed in the crash. Both crew and the other eleven passengers were injured. The pilot was seriously injured, and died in hospital on 19 August.
The farmer and farmhands rescued the injured people from the wrecked aircraft. Two of the passengers were able to extricate themselves from the wreckage but the other 11 passengers were more seriously injured. They had been thrown forwards in the accident, one woman had been forced through the side of the fuselage. The local doctor
attended and assisted in the evacuation of the injured from the scene. Hurdle
s were improvised as makeshift stretchers and the injured were taken into the barn until ambulances arrived from Ashford
, Hythe
and Lympne. They were taken to hospital in Folkestone
. Many of the injured suffered multiple fractures.
An inquest into the deaths of the passengers was held at College Farm on 19 August. Evidence was given that the aircraft had been inspected before the flight, and a certificate that it was fit to fly had been issued by Bureau Veritas
. The aircraft was capable of flying on three engines. The cause of death of both passengers was ruptures to their lungs. A verdict of Accidental death was given in both cases. The inquest into the death of the pilot was held on 26 August in Folkestone. Evidence given at the inquest into the deaths of the passengers showed that the pilot was experienced, having started his flying career with the French Army
during the First World War. He had been employed by Air Union for three years. A verdict of accidental death was returned.
Blériot 155
-References:* * *...
F-AIEB of Air Union
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...
hit a barn and crashed whilst attempting to make a forced landing in bad weather. Two passengers were killed in the accident, and the pilot died a day later.
Aircraft
The accident aircraft was Blériot 155 registrationAircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
F-AIEB Wilbur Wright, c/n 2. The aircraft had been registered to Air Union on 27 June 1926, and had flown for 47¼ hours at the time of the accident.
Accident
On 18 August 1926, the aircraft departed Le Bourget AirportParis – Le Bourget Airport
Paris – Le Bourget Airport is an airport located in Le Bourget, Bonneuil-en-France, and Dugny, north-northeast of Paris, France. It is now used only for general aviation as well as air shows...
, Paris at 12:30 pm local time
UTC+1
UTC+01:00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of +01:00. In ISO 8601 the associated time would be written as .This time is used in:*Central European Time*West Africa Time*Western European Summer Time**British Summer Time**Irish Standard Time...
(11:30 GMT), bound for Croydon Airport
Croydon 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...
. On board were the pilot and his mechanic, and 13 passengers. At 1:56 pm GMT, a radio report was made to Saint-Inglevert
Saint-Inglevert Airfield
Saint-Inglevert Airfield is a general aviation airfield at Saint-Inglevert, Pas-de-Calais, France. In the First World War an airfield was established near Saint-Inglevert by the Royal Flying Corps, later passing to the Royal Air Force on formation and thus becoming RAF Saint Inglevert...
that the aircraft was crossing the coast at Berck-Plage
Berck
Berck, sometimes referred to as Berck-sur-Mer, is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France and lies within the Marquenterre regional park, an ornithological nature reserve...
. The crossing of the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
was made in conditions of poor visibility, with heavy drizzle. Reported weather conditions at Lympne at 1:15 pm GMT were continuous rain and fog, visibility 500 yards (457.2 m), cloudbase less than 150 feet (45.7 m). Visibility had halved in the preceding 20 minutes. It was reported that an engine failed as the aircraft crossed the English coast. At 2:30 pm GMT, the pilot attempted to make a forced landing in a large field at College Farm, Hurst, Aldington
Aldington, Kent
Aldington is a village and civil parish in the Ashford District of Kent, England. The village centre is eight miles south-east of the town of Ashford...
, some 5 miles (8 km) west of Lympne Airport
Lympne Airport
Lympne Airport , , was a military and later civil airfield at Lympne, Kent, United Kingdom, which operated from 1916 to 1984. RFC Lympne was originally an acceptance point for aircraft being delivered to, and returning from, France during the First World War...
. The aircraft clipped the roof of a barn and then hit three stacks
Haystack
Haystack or Haystacks may refer to:Agriculture:* A stack of hayPeople:* Haystak, an American rapper* William Calhoun, a professional wrestler who used the name of "Haystack" or "Haystacks" CalhounPlaces:...
before crashing to the ground. The farmer and two farmhands were missed by 10 feet (3 m). Two of the 13 passengers were killed in the crash. Both crew and the other eleven passengers were injured. The pilot was seriously injured, and died in hospital on 19 August.
The farmer and farmhands rescued the injured people from the wrecked aircraft. Two of the passengers were able to extricate themselves from the wreckage but the other 11 passengers were more seriously injured. They had been thrown forwards in the accident, one woman had been forced through the side of the fuselage. The local doctor
General practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
attended and assisted in the evacuation of the injured from the scene. Hurdle
Hurdle
A hurdle is a moveable section of light fence. Traditionally they were made from wattle , but modern hurdles are often made of metal. Hurdles are used for handling livestock, as decorative fencing, for horse racing and in the track and field event of hurdling.-Types:*Traditional hurdles are made...
s were improvised as makeshift stretchers and the injured were taken into the barn until ambulances arrived from Ashford
Ashford, Kent
Ashford is a town in the borough of Ashford in Kent, England. In 2005 it was voted the fourth best place to live in the United Kingdom. It lies on the Great Stour river, the M20 motorway, and the South Eastern Main Line and High Speed 1 railways. Its agricultural market is one of the most...
, Hythe
Hythe, Kent
Hythe , is a small coastal market town on the edge of Romney Marsh, in the District of Shepway on the south coast of Kent. The word Hythe or Hithe is an Old English word meaning Haven or Landing Place....
and Lympne. They were taken to hospital in Folkestone
Folkestone
Folkestone is the principal town in the Shepway District of Kent, England. Its original site was in a valley in the sea cliffs and it developed through fishing and its closeness to the Continent as a landing place and trading port. The coming of the railways, the building of a ferry port, and its...
. Many of the injured suffered multiple fractures.
An inquest into the deaths of the passengers was held at College Farm on 19 August. Evidence was given that the aircraft had been inspected before the flight, and a certificate that it was fit to fly had been issued by Bureau Veritas
Bureau Veritas
Bureau Veritas S.A. is a multinational company providing conformity assessment, certification and consulting services to industry, government and individuals. Originally formed in Antwerp in 1828 as Bureau de Renseignements pour les Assurances Maritimes , the Bureau Veritas name was adopted in 1829...
. The aircraft was capable of flying on three engines. The cause of death of both passengers was ruptures to their lungs. A verdict of Accidental death was given in both cases. The inquest into the death of the pilot was held on 26 August in Folkestone. Evidence given at the inquest into the deaths of the passengers showed that the pilot was experienced, having started his flying career with the French Army
French Army
The French Army, officially the Armée de Terre , is the land-based and largest component of the French Armed Forces.As of 2010, the army employs 123,100 regulars, 18,350 part-time reservists and 7,700 Legionnaires. All soldiers are professionals, following the suspension of conscription, voted in...
during the First World War. He had been employed by Air Union for three years. A verdict of accidental death was returned.
Casualties
| Nationality | Crew | Passengers | Killed | Injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 American |
– | 8 | 1 | 7 |
 English |
– | 4 | – | 4 |
 French |
2 | – | 1 | 1 |
 ItalianItaly Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
– | 1 | 1 | – |
| Total | 2 | 13 | 3 | 12 |