Narrative:A Handley Page O/400, operated by Handley Page Transport, was damaged beyond repair in the first fatal commercial aviation disaster.
The aircraft operated on a scheduled service from London's Cricklewood Aerodrome in the United Kingdom, to Paris, France. On board were six passengers and two crew members.
Visibility was limited due to fog as the aircraft took off. It gained insufficient height, struck trees and crashed. The aircraft caught fire, killing 4 of the 8 passengers and crew.
Classification:
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Ground
Sources:
»
Wikipedia» Early Aviation Disasters / D. Gero, 2011
Photos
accident date:
14-12-1920type: Handley Page O/400
registration: G-EAMA
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does
not display the exact flight path.
Distance from London-Cricklewood Aerodrome to Paris-Le Bourget Airport as the crow flies is 342 km (214 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.