1929 Jask Imperial Airways de Havilland Hercules crash

On 6 September 1929 a de Havilland Hercules three-engined biplane of Imperial Airways crashed on landing at Jask Airport, near the town of Jask in Iran on the Gulf of Oman.[1] The aircraft was carrying mail from the United Kingdom to India.[1] The pilot, a mechanic and a passenger were killed.[1][lower-alpha 1]

Jask Imperial Airways de Havilland Hercules crash
de Havilland Hercules City of Cairo, a sister aircraft to City of Jerusalem
Accident
Date6 September 1929 (1929-09-06)
SummaryPilot error, stall, loss of control
SiteJask Airport, Jask, Iran
25°39′13″N 057°47′57″E
Aircraft
Aircraft typede Havilland DH.66 Hercules
Aircraft nameCity of Jerusalem
OperatorImperial Airways
RegistrationG-EBMZ
Passengers1
Crew4
Fatalities3
Injuries2
Survivors2

Aircraft

The aircraft was a de Havilland Hercules three-engined biplane, registered in the United Kingdom as G-EBMZ and delivered new to Imperial Airways in 1927. It was named City of Jerusalem by the airline.

Accident

The City of Jerusalem was carrying mail from the United Kingdom to India.[1] While attempting a night landing at Jask the pilot misjudged the aircraft's altitude and it stalled and crashed.[2] The landing gear was destroyed and the port wings were badly damaged.[2] Flares were fitted to the wingtips and had been ignited to provide illumination for the night landing. The port wing had been forced backwards in the crash until it lay alongside the fuselage; the burning flare set fire to fuel spilled from the damaged fuel tanks.[2] The pilot, a mechanic and a passenger were killed, the chief mechanic and wireless operator were seriously injured.[3]

Investigation

The investigation was carried out by the Government of India and the British Air Ministry; the conclusion was that additional precautions were to be adopted, but noted that wing-mounted flares were still regarded as a satisfactory form of emergency landing aid.[1]

Notes
  1. One of those onboard,a Mr J Court was variously described as a Mechanic or Spare Mechanic or a member of the Imperial Airways Staff and is described as either a passenger or crew.

References
  1. "Indian Air Mail - Machine Burnt - Three Lives Lost at Jask". The Times (45303). London. 9 September 1929. p. 12.
  2. "The Jask Disaster". Flight. 31 January 1930. p. 162.
  3. "The Indian Air Mail Disaster". Flight. 13 September 1929. p. 1018.
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