No fatalities

Emergency Landing Near Dalmellington After Engine Failure (BD143)

Dalmellington, United KingdomFlight

On April 20, 1942, a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (registration BD143) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Dalmellington, United Kingdom in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was caused by an engine failure during flight. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft suffered an engine failure during a cross-country flight from RAF Hendon, forcing an emergency landing near Dalmellington where the tail was sheared off. All eight occupants escaped with minor injuries.

What happened

During a cross-country departure from RAF Hendon, the aircraft experienced a mechanical malfunction that resulted in total engine failure. The pilot initiated an emergency procedure to land as soon as possible, selecting a field at Breston Farm near Dalmellington for the approach.

Upon touchdown, the impact was severe enough to shear off the tail section of the airframe. The machine came to rest on the ground and sustained damage that rendered it beyond repair. Despite the violent nature of the landing, all eight occupants managed to evacuate the wreckage with only slight injuries.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by an engine failure during flight.