1 fatality

Pre-delivery test flight crash at Stag Lane (ZS-ACY)

Stag Lane (Edgware), United KingdomTakeoff (climb)

On April 28, 1932, a De Havilland DH.60 Moth (registration ZS-ACY) operated by De Havilland Aircraft UK was involved in an aviation accident near Stag Lane (Edgware), United Kingdom during takeoff. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft broke up in flight due to a disconnected wing locking bolt. 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 sole-pilot pre-delivery control flight crashed shortly after takeoff from Stag Lane, resulting in the death of the pilot.

What happened

The incident involved a local test flight conducted by a single pilot operating out of Stag Lane. The objective of the mission was to perform a pre-delivery control check of the aircraft. Shortly after leaving the ground, while the airplane was in the initial climb phase, it lost control and impacted the terrain. The pilot, who was the sole occupant on board, was killed in the accident.

Findings

Investigations determined that the structural failure occurred during flight. The primary mechanical issue identified was a wing locking bolt that had become disconnected. This disconnection led to the aircraft breaking up in mid-air, causing the loss of control and the subsequent crash.

Probable cause

The aircraft broke up in flight due to a disconnected wing locking bolt.