1 fatality

1928 Transatlantic Solo Flight Disappearance Near Newfoundland (G-EBWV)

Atlantic Ocean, WorldFlight

On October 18, 1928, a De Havilland DH.60 Moth (registration G-EBWV) operated by De Havilland Aircraft UK was involved in an aviation accident near Atlantic Ocean, World in flight. One person was killed. 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 single-engine aircraft vanished over the Atlantic Ocean after a transatlantic solo attempt from Newfoundland to England in October 1928, with no wreckage or pilot ever recovered.

What happened

On the afternoon of 17 October 1928, a pilot departed St. John's, Newfoundland, beginning a nonstop solo flight intended to reach England. The aircraft was a single-engine model operating independently across the Atlantic Ocean. Approximately seven and a half hours into the journey, the plane was observed by the crew of the vessel *Hardenberg*. This sighting occurred roughly 600 miles off the Canadian coast and marked the final confirmed contact with the flight. Following this observation, the aircraft disappeared over the ocean. Extensive efforts to locate the machine or its occupant failed, and no physical evidence of the crash site was ever recovered.

Findings

The source material does not provide specific technical findings or a formal investigation report regarding the mechanical condition of the aircraft at the time of disappearance. The record notes only that the last known position was 600 miles offshore and that neither the aircraft nor the pilot was found.