1933 Imperial Airways Ruysselede crash

Aircraft crash July 2014 April 2025 1933 Imperial Airways Ruysselede crash Accident G-ABLU.jpg 250px G-ABLU, the Avro Ten involved in the accident. 30 December 1933 Controlled flight into terrain due to pilot error Ruysselede, West Flanders, Belgium 51 4 41.98 N 3 20 5.44 E type:landmark_scale:1000_region:BE inline,title Avro Ten Apollo Imperial Airways G-ABLU Cologne Butzweilerhof Airport, Germany Haren Airport, Brussels, Belgium Croydon Airport, United Kingdom 8 2 10 0 The 1933 Imperial Airways Ruysselede crash occurred on 30 December 1933 when an Imperial Airways Avro Ten collided with one of the radio masts of Belradio at Ruysselede, West Flanders, Belgium and crashed killing all ten people on board. The aircraft was operating an international scheduled passenger flight from Cologne, Germany to London, England via Brussels, Belgium. Aircraft The accident aircraft was Avro Ten registration G-ABLU, c/n 528. The aircraft had entered service with Imperial Airways in May 1931 and having served for a time with Iraq Petroleum Transport Co., it had returned to Imperial Airways. The aircraft was named Apollo.http://www.airhistory.org.uk/gy/reg_G-A3.html Civil Aircraft Register – Great Britain Golden Years of Aviation 16 April 2014 Accident Operating a flight from Cologne, Germany to Croydon Airport, United Kingdom via Haren Airport, Brussels, Belgium, the aircraft departed at 12:20 local time (11:20 GMT), which was 20 minutes later than scheduled. As a result of fog, the aircraft was flying on a route to the north of its normal route. At 13:15, whilst flying at an altitude of 250 ft m,Imperial Airways machine crashes in fog Flight 4 January 1934 17 http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1934/1934%20-%200013.html it crashed into a guy wire of the 870 ft m tall radio mast at Ruysselede,The Air Liner Crash 5 January 1934 11 46644 B which was illuminated at the time. The top section of the mast was demolished. The aircraft lost a wing and crashed. Four workers at the radio station rushed to the aid of those on board the aircraft, as did twelve villagers from Ruysselede. At least one passenger was seen to have survived the crash. There was an explosion and the wreckage of the aircraft was burnt out. The rescuers all suffered burns.Air Crash in Belgium 1 January 1934 12 46640 D Casualties All ten passengers and crew on the aircraft were killed. Four rescuers suffered burns. Nationality Crew Passengers TotalUnited Kingdom 2 5 7Netherlands – 2 2Poland – 1 1 Total 2 8 10 Investigation The accident was investigated by Belgian authorities. The British Accidents Investigation Branch sent a representative to assist in the investigation.Wrecked Air Liner 2 January 1934 9 46441 E Awards The relatives of one of the victims praised the bravery of one of the rescuers, and pressed for him to be rewarded for his courage.Air Crash in Belgium 3 January 1934 9 46642 G King Albert I awarded Camille van Hove the Civic Cross (1st Class) for his efforts in attempting to rescue the victims of the crash. Mr van Hove received serious burns and was still in hospital in Bruges at the time the award was notified.Civil Cross for Ruysselede crash rescuer Flight 11 January 1934 41 http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1934/1934%20-%200041.html Nine other rescuers were given rewards of money.The Apollo Disaster 20 January 1934 10 46657 B References External links Photograph of G-ABLU Apollo and Handley Page H.P.42 G-AAUD Hanno. Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1933 Category:Aviation accidents and incidents in Belgium Category:Airliner accidents and incidents involving fog Category:Imperial Airways accidents and incidents Category:1933 in aviation Category:1933 in Belgium Category:December 1933 in Europe Category:1930s disasters in Belgium