On July 26, 1936, a De Havilland DH.60 Moth (registration G-ACGD) operated by Edinburgh Flying Club was involved in an aviation accident near Mt Broad Law, United Kingdom in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain resulting from the pilot entering clouds at an altitude too low to maintain safe clearance. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
A single-engine airplane crashed into Mt Broad Law, killing both occupants, after the pilot entered low clouds while flying from Macmerry to Kingstown.
What happened
The single-engine aircraft departed Macmerry, located east of Edinburgh, on a scheduled flight toward Kingstown near Carlisle. The airplane carried one pilot and one passenger. During the en route phase, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions characterized by low cloud cover. While navigating through these conditions, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Broad Law, which stands at 840 metres in elevation. The crash site was situated approximately 50 km south of Edinburgh. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe, and both occupants were killed.
Findings
The official investigation determined that the accident occurred due to a controlled flight into terrain. The primary contributing factor was the pilot's entry into cloud layers while maintaining an altitude that was insufficient for safe navigation under those conditions.
Probable cause
Controlled flight into terrain resulting from the pilot entering clouds at an altitude too low to maintain safe clearance.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 26 Jul 1936 De Havilland DH.60 Moth accident near Mt Broad Law, United Kingdom?
A single-engine airplane crashed into Mt Broad Law, killing both occupants, after the pilot entered low clouds while flying from Macmerry to Kingstown.
Were there any fatalities in the 26 Jul 1936 De Havilland DH.60 Moth accident?
The accident was fatal, resulting in 2 fatalities.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 26 Jul 1936 involved a De Havilland DH.60 Moth, registration G-ACGD, operated by Edinburgh Flying Club, at Mt Broad Law, United Kingdom.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
Controlled flight into terrain resulting from the pilot entering clouds at an altitude too low to maintain safe clearance.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…