October 1939 reported civil accidents

This accident list is the result of many years work, noting accidents reported in various sources. The accidents may be anything from a forced-landing to a total write off. It includes some non WWII related military accidents. I make no claims as to the accuracy of any item, but these notes may help if you wish to follow up any report. Any additions or corrections to this list would be welcome. You can email me at vicsmith@argonet.co.uk (or just click on this link)

A "?" in any column indicates that there is a definite doubt in my mind

Where no Registration is known, the nationality prefix is shown. Where a military aircraft is involved, serials are given where known, otherwise the nationality is followed by "-mil". A serial with no prefix indicates a RAF aircraft.

The Type is as reported, remember that many British newspapers described any light aircraft as a "Moth"

The Location may be some distance from the accident site, particularly in more remote parts of the world. The country is assumed to be that of the registration, unless otherwise shown. State or province abbreviations are those normally used. Country names are those that existed at the time, e.g., Karachi would be in India, not Pakistan. Storm damage is generally described as "gale"

The Notes column gives alternate dates where sources differ, occasionally aircraft or pilot's names and British previous identities if I feel that this may be useful

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Date Registration Type Place Notes
October G-ABAM DH 60 unknown
October J-BAAI Karigane unknown, Taiwan
October ZS-AAI DH 60 unknown
October USCG V147 Grumman JF-2 unknown
October USCG V159 Waco J2W unknown
1 Oct Nxx Cortland, NY
2 Oct D- Helsinki, Finland
3 Oct 37-372 Sikorsky Y10A-8 Panama
4 Oct NC18605 Boeing 314 Horta, Azores
4 Oct USAAC Brownsville, KY
5 Oct G-AFVC Percival Q.6 Brierley, Staffs
6 Oct HC-mil Machala
7 Oct VT- DH 82 Lucknow
8 Oct HK- Calamar
9 Oct USAAC Douglas Lytton, BC, Canada
9 Oct USN collision San Diego, CA
11 Oct Nxx Trenton, NJ
13 Oct I-DIRE Caproni Ca 133 Djibouti
13 Oct Nxx Greenwich, CT
14 Oct NX19427 Curtiss CW-23 Washington, DC
14 Oct Nxx(mil?) Seversky East Farmingdale, NY
15 Oct Nxx Rochester, NY
15 Oct CX-mil collision Montevideo date reported
16 Oct Nxx dbf Gouverneur, NY date reported
16 Oct K4184 Vildebeest Kulup Jahore, Malaya
17 Oct RCAF Shark Vancouver, BC
18 Oct I- Malaga, Spain Ala Littoria
19 Oct VH-UIG DH 60 Goodna, Q date reported
20 Oct USAAC Cascade Mts, OR
20 Oct VH- A2-7 Seagull V Warbuton
21 Oct USAAC San Diego, CA date reported
22 Oct NC9608 Ford 4-AT Hickory, NC
22 Oct Nxx Avon Park, FL
22 Oct Nxx Woodbridge, NJ
22 Oct Nxx Rockland, NY
25 Oct Nxx Collierville, TN Eastern Airlines
26 Oct PK-AFF Fokker F.VIIb/3m Kiunga, NG date reported
26 Oct VH- A2-7 Seagull V Warburton, V
28 Oct VH- A4-48 Anson Laverton
29 Oct LV- Dolores
29 Oct VT-AKU Percival Q.6 Juhu
29 Oct OB-(mil?) missing, Caribbean
30 Oct USAAC Dallas, TX
30 Oct USN Pacific
31 Oct ZK-ABN Spartan Timaru