On November 16, 1931, a De Havilland DH.60 Moth (registration G-AAEN) operated by Francis W. Armitage was involved in an aviation accident near Blandford Forum, United Kingdom during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by the loss of control during landing after the control column detached from the aircraft structure. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
A pilot lost control of an aircraft during landing in Blandford Forum after the control column detached, resulting in a crash where the pilot was rescued.
What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was executing a landing approach at Blandford Forum. During this phase of flight, the pilot experienced a sudden mechanical failure when the control column came adrift from its mounting. This loss of structural integrity in the control system rendered the airplane uncontrollable. Consequently, the pilot was unable to maintain stability or guide the aircraft safely onto the runway surface. The plane impacted the ground and sustained damage that was assessed as beyond repair. Despite the severity of the crash, the pilot was successfully extracted from the wreckage and rescued.
Findings
The official investigation identified the detachment of the control column as the primary factor leading to the accident. This mechanical failure directly caused the loss of control upon landing. The sequence of events indicates that once the column separated, the pilot had no means to influence the aircraft's attitude or trajectory, resulting in the subsequent crash.
Probable cause
The accident was caused by the loss of control during landing after the control column detached from the aircraft structure.
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