No fatalities

Solo Training Aircraft Crash in Prairie Near Stag Lane (G-EAWD)

Stanford Rivers, United KingdomFlight

On August 26, 1923, a De Havilland DH.6 (registration G-EAWD) operated by De Havilland Aircraft UK was involved in an aviation accident near Stanford Rivers, United Kingdom in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of bearings during a training flight led to an unsuccessful emergency landing attempt. 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 solo pilot conducting a training flight from Stag Lane lost orientation and attempted an emergency landing, resulting in a crash that caused injuries to the crew member and total loss of the aircraft.

What happened

The incident involved a single-occupant aircraft operating under a training sortie profile. The flight originated from Stag Lane. During the en-route phase, the pilot lost visual or navigational bearings. In response to this disorientation, the crew member decided to execute an emergency landing. The attempt resulted in the aircraft impacting the ground within a prairie area. The impact caused significant structural damage, rendering the airframe destroyed. The sole occupant sustained injuries during the event.

Findings

The primary factor leading to the accident was the pilot's loss of bearings while conducting a training exercise. This navigational error necessitated an emergency landing procedure that ultimately failed due to terrain constraints or handling issues, resulting in the crash.

Probable cause

Loss of bearings during a training flight led to an unsuccessful emergency landing attempt.