No fatalities

Test Flight Stall at Elstree Airfield Results in Total Loss (G-AHZM)

Elstree, United KingdomLanding (descent or approach)

On September 16, 1946, a Handley Page H.P.70 Halifax VIII (registration G-AHZM) operated by London Aero & Motor Services - LAMS was involved in an aviation accident near Elstree, United Kingdom during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot in command stalled the aircraft during the final segment of the approach, resulting in a hard landing and undercarriage collapse. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 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

A test flight at Elstree Airfield ended with a hard landing and undercarriage collapse after the pilot stalled the aircraft on final approach. All four crew members were uninjured, but the airframe was written off.

What happened

The incident occurred during a test flight conducted at Elstree Airfield. While executing the final segment of the approach to land, the pilot in command allowed the aircraft to enter a stall. This loss of lift resulted in a hard landing upon touchdown with the runway surface.

Upon impact, the structural integrity of the landing gear failed, causing the undercarriage to collapse. The airframe subsequently came to rest on the runway pavement. Despite the severity of the ground contact and the subsequent mechanical failure, all four individuals aboard the aircraft sustained no injuries. Following the event, the damage was assessed as irreparable, leading to the decision to write off the machine.

Probable cause

The pilot in command stalled the aircraft during the final segment of the approach, resulting in a hard landing and undercarriage collapse.