Investigation Summary
The flight departed Croydon with 73 gallons of fuel, sufficient for the planned journey to Manchester. The aircraft, manufacturer serial number (MSN) 29, had been in service since March 1922. Due to the low passenger load, the aircraft carried 400 pounds of ballast, consisting of a 350-pound sack of sand and a 50-pound stone, to maintain proper weight and balance. While transiting Buckinghamshire, the pilot encountered a storm and deteriorating weather conditions. Witnesses at Ford End, Ivinghoe, reported hearing the engine fail and then restart, suggesting the pilot may have been struggling with mechanical issues or attempting to manage the aircraft's descent in turbulent air. However, the official Inspector of Accidents found no evidence of malfunction in either the engine or airframe. As the pilot maneuvered to perform an emergency landing in an 18-acre meadow, the aircraft lost flying speed and entered a stall at a low altitude after a short burst of engine to clear trees. The resulting impact was so severe that the aircraft overturned, and one witness reported a violent explosion. Contemporary reports initially stated the aircraft was carrying mail, though the General Post Office later issued a denial. The accident left Daimler Airway with no remaining aircraft to service the Croydon to Manchester route, forcing a temporary suspension of the line.
Final Conclusions
The Air Ministry investigation, led by Major Cooper of the Accidents Investigation Branch, concluded that the accident was caused by an error of judgment by the pilot. The pilot allowed the aircraft to lose flying speed while attempting a precautionary landing necessitated by bad weather, leading to a fatal stall near the ground.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Pilot
Captain George Edward Pratt, aged 27. Described as experienced during the inquest.
Systems & Failure Modes
Ballast
A 350-pound sack of sand and a 50-pound stone were used to maintain the center of gravity; investigators confirmed these were secured and did not shift during flight.
Napier Lion Engine
Witnesses reported the engine stopped and restarted during the storm, though the final report focused on the pilot's loss of airspeed rather than mechanical failure.
Interesting Facts
- 01This was the first fatal accident on a commercial domestic flight in the United Kingdom.
- 02The aircraft was carrying 400 pounds of ballast (sand and stone) to compensate for a light passenger load.
- 03The pilot was experienced, with a total of 755 flying hours.
- 04The aircraft was confirmed to be airworthy and carrying adequate fuel upon departure from Croydon.
- 05The jury at the inquest recommended that official aircraft accident reports be made available to the public, similar to railway accident reports.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Public Disclosure of Accident Reports
Following the inquest, the jury and the media called for Air Ministry accident investigation reports to be made public, a practice that was subsequently adopted to improve aviation safety transparency.
Location
APPROXIMATE POSITION · AIRPORT LEVEL · Coordinates are the estimate published in the wikidata coordinate. The ring shows the accuracy the record supports, not the point of impact.