3 fatalities

Training aircraft crash shortly after takeoff kills three crew members (E5557)

Hendon, United KingdomTakeoff (climb)

On July 18, 1919, a De Havilland DH.10 Amiens (registration E5557) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Hendon, United Kingdom during takeoff. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An error of judgment committed by the pilot during the initial climb phase. 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.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A military training aircraft crashed into the ground while climbing to 150 feet shortly after departure, resulting in the deaths of all three personnel on board.

What happened

The incident occurred during a routine training mission. The flight had just departed when the accident sequence began. While the aircraft was in the initial climb phase, ascending to an altitude of approximately 150 feet, it suddenly dove toward the terrain. The impact with the ground was fatal for everyone on board. All three members of the crew lost their lives in the crash.

Findings

The official investigation attributed the event to a specific human factor. It was determined that the accident resulted from an error of judgment made by the pilot during the critical early phase of the flight. Following this determination, the legal proceedings concluded with a jury verdict of accidental death.

Probable cause

An error of judgment committed by the pilot during the initial climb phase.