1934 Hillman's Airways de Havilland Dragon Rapide crash

Hillman's Airways

Industry	Airline
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Air transport services

Template:EngvarB Template:Infobox Aircraft occurrence

The 1934 Hillman's Airways de Havilland Dragon Rapide accident took place on 2 October 1934 when a de Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide operated by Hillman's Airways crashed into the English Channel near Folkestone, Kent, resulting in the deaths of all seven individuals aboard. The flight was a scheduled international passenger service from Abridge Aerodrome to Le Bourget Airport, Paris. This incident marked the initial total loss of a Dragon Rapide aircraft.

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a de Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide bearing registration G-ACPM and construction number 6251.<ref name=DH> This particular plane was the first Dragon Rapide produced.<ref name=EGC> Initially entered into the 1934 King's Cup Race by Lord Wakefield, it withdrew at RAF Waddington due to hail damage. The aircraft had been delivered to Hillman's Airways on 27 July.<ref name=AB>

Accident

The journey commenced from Abridge at 10:00 am. At departure, cloud base stood at approximately 700 feet (210 m) with visibility around 2 miles (3.2 km); however, within thirty minutes, rain caused visibility to deteriorate further. By 10:47, as the plane neared the coastline, the pilot requested a radio bearing from Croydon Airport. The response indicated a position north of Dover. Under poor visibility conditions, the standard route followed was from Dungeness to Le Touquet. To correct his course, the pilot turned southward. Around 11:02, the aircraft plunged into the sea and was destroyed, with no survivors among the seven occupants.<ref name=Times031034>

The crash site lay approximately 4 miles (6.4 km) off Folkestone.<ref name=Times041034> Crew members aboard the German vessel SS Leander heard the impact. Within ten minutes, a boat was deployed and recovered wreckage along with two bodies.<ref name=Times031034> At that time, visibility remained poor due to intermittent rain with a cloud base near 300 feet (91 m).<ref name=Times051034> The British coastal trading ship SS Snowcrete participated in search efforts and retrieved a third body. Additionally, the cross-channel ferry operated by Southern Railway, SS Biarritz, joined in locating victims and recovered two further bodies. Those recovered were transferred onto Biarritz, which transported them to Folkestone before continuing to Boulogne-sur-Mer. Rescue operations also involved the Dover Lifeboat and a tugboat from Dover searching for the remaining two missing persons.<ref name=Times031034> Wreckage pieces were brought ashore at Dover and Folkestone.<ref name=Times041034> This crash represented the first total loss recorded for a Dragon Rapide aircraft.<ref name=WDAC>

The Folkestone Coroner opened an inquest on 4 October at Folkestone Town Hall concerning five of the recovered victims.<ref name=Times041034> Testimonies indicated that the aircraft likely impacted the sea at high velocity causing fatal multiple injuries to all aboard. The jury returned verdicts of "accidental death" for each victim.<ref name=Times051034>

An investigation conducted by the Air Ministry concluded that pilot error was responsible for the crash, attributing it to insufficient experience in navigation and flying without visual references. Despite poor conditions at lower altitudes, there was relatively clear air between 3,000 and 8,000 ft. The calm sea surface provided no distinguishable features for orientation.<ref name=Flight100135>

Casualties

The breakdown of the victims by nationality was as follows:

Nationality	Crew Members	Passengers	Overall Total
English	1	2	3
French	–	2	2
American	–	1	1
Scottish	–	1	1
Total	1	6	7