On August 5, 1942, a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator (registration AL588) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Marston Moor AFB, United Kingdom during takeoff. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control in initial climb caused by the failure of the tail section, possibly due to a structural defect. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An RAF Avro Lancaster crashed shortly after takeoff from Marston Moor during an air gunnery exercise, killing all ten crew members on board.
What happened
The aircraft was operating out of RAF Marston Moor as part of a training mission involving coordination with a Royal Air Force Spitfire. The incident occurred shortly after the plane left the ground while in the initial climb phase. During this ascent, the pilot executed a sharp turn and subsequently lost control of the airframe. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled dive and impacted the terrain in a field situated approximately 800 metres from the airbase perimeter. The impact resulted in a significant explosion that completely destroyed the Avro Lancaster. All 10 crew members aboard were killed in the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified the immediate cause as a loss of control during the initial climb. This loss of control was attributed to the failure of the tail section. The underlying reason for this structural failure is believed to have been a pre-existing structural issue with the aircraft.
Probable cause
Loss of control in initial climb caused by the failure of the tail section, possibly due to a structural defect.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…