16 October 1932 – Blackburn & General Aeroplane & Motor Co Ltd, Brough - Blackburn L.1C Bluebird IV – G-ABPN – Ernest Clifford Carter – Duty. Private flight
Location – Crashed near Waltham airfield 4 miles south of Grimsby
The aircraft was owned by the Blackburn and General Aeroplane and Motor Co Ltd at Brough but was on loan to the Grimsby Aeroclub at Waltham Grange airfield. The aircraft was returning from a flight to Brough and crashed just short of Waltham airfield for reasons unknown and both pilot Ernest Clifford Carter and passenger George William Cleveland were killed. One man broke his neck and the other died soon after the crash
Ernest Clifford Carter – 28 – Bus driver – Grimsby Road, Waltham
George William Cleveland – 25 – Bus conductor – Victor St ,Grimsby
Ernest Carter and his friend George Cleveland had flown to Brough from Waltham on a pleasure flight and were returning to Waltham, when just short of the airfield, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the ground from 150 ft at approx 1630 hrs. Carter was a member of the Lincolnshire Aeroclub at Waltham where he learnt to fly and held an A Pilot’s Licence. At an inquest held by the coroner at Cleethorpes several days later it was confirmed that Carter was a perfectly capable pilot. Capt Frank Wilkins of the Air Investigation Branch of the Air Ministry stated he had examined the wreck and confirmed the controls were all in working order and there was plenty of fuel. In dismantling the engine nothing was found to account for any possible failure and there was nothing in the wreckage to account for the accident. A verdict of Accidental Death was returned by the District Coroner Mr H A Howden
Compiled by David Fell. Photo from my archive
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