No fatalities

Aircraft undercarriage collapse at RAF West Freugh (AW160)

West Freugh AFB, United KingdomLanding (descent or approach)

On October 19, 1942, a De Havilland DH.60 Moth (registration AW160) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near West Freugh AFB, United Kingdom during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident resulted from the pilot's parachute fouling the control column. 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

An aircraft suffered a landing gear failure upon touchdown at RAF West Freugh, resulting in total loss of the airframe while both crew members escaped without injury.

What happened

The incident occurred during the landing phase at RAF West Freugh. Upon touchdown, the aircraft's undercarriage collapsed, leading to significant structural damage. The impact rendered the airplane damaged beyond repair, effectively writing off the airframe. Despite the severity of the crash, both members of the crew managed to escape the wreckage without sustaining any injuries.

Findings

Investigations into the event identified a specific mechanical interference as the root cause. It was determined that the pilot's parachute became entangled with the control column. This fouling prevented proper operation of the aircraft controls during the critical landing sequence, directly contributing to the undercarriage failure and subsequent crash.

Probable cause

The accident resulted from the pilot's parachute fouling the control column.