No fatalities

Shoreham Demo Flight Crash Involving Serious Pilot Injury (G-ABWL)

Shoreham-by-Sea, United KingdomFlight

On May 23, 1936, a De Havilland DH.60 Moth (registration G-ABWL) operated by South Coast Flying Club was involved in an aviation accident near Shoreham-by-Sea, United Kingdom in flight. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 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

During a local demonstration flight at Shoreham for the British Empire Flying Day, an aircraft entered an uncontrolled dive from 3,000 feet and crashed. The pilot sustained serious injuries in the accident.

What happened

The incident occurred during a local demonstration flight departing from Shoreham. The pilot was participating in events associated with the British Empire Flying Day. While maintaining a cruise altitude of 3,000 feet, the aircraft unexpectedly entered a dive. This loss of control resulted in a crash on the ground.

Findings

The source material does not provide specific technical findings or contributing factors regarding the mechanical condition of the aircraft or the exact sequence leading to the dive. However, it is recorded that the pilot was seriously injured as a result of the impact.