No fatalities

Emergency Field Landing in Eccleshall After Cockpit Smoke (G-ALEJ)

Eccleshall, United KingdomFlight

On September 14, 1956, a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (registration G-ALEJ) operated by Lancashire Aircraft Corporation - LAC was involved in an aviation accident near Eccleshall, United Kingdom in flight. No fatalities were reported. 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)Source recordUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported cockpit smoke while en route from Blackpool and diverted to the nearest airport. As conditions worsened, the aircraft crash-landed in a field in Eccleshall, damaging the undercarriage and wings. All seven occupants evacuated safely.

Incident Overview and Emergency Response During a flight en route from Blackpool, the pilot notified air traffic control of smoke in the cockpit. The pilot initially elected to divert to the nearest airport. As the situation on board became critical, the pilot decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field located in Eccleshall. ## Outcome and Damage The aircraft crash-landed and came to rest with severe damage to its undercarriage and wings. All seven occupants evacuated safely. No injuries or fatalities were reported in the source material, and no specific aircraft type, registration, operator, date, or cause was provided.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 14 Sept 1956 De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide accident near Eccleshall, United Kingdom?

A pilot reported cockpit smoke while en route from Blackpool and diverted to the nearest airport. As conditions worsened, the aircraft crash-landed in a field in Eccleshall, damaging the undercarriage and wings. All seven occupants evacuated safely.

Were there any fatalities in the 14 Sept 1956 De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 14 Sept 1956 involved a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide, registration G-ALEJ, operated by Lancashire Aircraft Corporation - LAC, at Eccleshall, United Kingdom.