No fatalities

Post-Liftoff Crash Due to Locked Control Column (J8319)

Waddington AFB, United KingdomTakeoff (climb)

On March 5, 1930, a Handley Page H.P.24 Hyderabad (registration J8319) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Waddington AFB, United Kingdom during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control after liftoff caused by a locked rear 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 crashed shortly after takeoff when it nosed down, resulting in minor injuries to all four crew members and total destruction of the plane.

What happened

The incident occurred immediately following the departure phase. Just after the airplane left the ground, it experienced a sudden nose-down attitude. This loss of control resulted in an immediate crash into the terrain. The impact was severe enough to destroy the airframe completely. All four individuals on board sustained minor injuries during the event.

Findings

The official investigation determined that the accident stemmed from a mechanical configuration error prior to departure. Specifically, the rear control column remained locked during the takeoff roll and initial climb. This restriction prevented the flight crew from exerting the necessary input to maintain pitch attitude or counteract the nose-down tendency once airborne, leading directly to the loss of control.

Probable cause

Loss of control after liftoff caused by a locked rear control column.