Avro 504K at Scarborough.
Avro 504k G-EANQ (photo via Jim Rutland).
On the 19th of July 1920 this aircraft suffered engine failure in flight and the aircraft struck a hayrick on landing in the
Scarborough area damaging it. The pilot and passenger are not thought to have been injured. The aircraft was used for pleasure flights.
The aircraft was built to Contract 35a/3268/C3791 by A.V. Roe Ltd, Manchester as J755.
The aircraft was immediately declared 'surplus to requirements' as it was manufactured after WW1 had ended, it probably never
left the factory. After being purchased by A.V. Roe Ltd and registered to them as G-EANQ on 22nd September 1919 it was sold
to Border Aviation Co Ltd, Carlisle in April 1920. After it suffered
it's accident detailed above it was repaired. The company owning it went into liquidation in October 1920 and the C of A lapsed
on 8th October 1920. It was transferred to the companies former proprietors Robert F Little & Percy H Ingham
who then became Ingham & Little Aviation Company based at Botcherley, Carlisle on 25th May 1921. Its C of A was renewed on 20th July 1921 but it suffered its
Cat.W/FA on 5th December 1921 when it caught fire in the air and crashed onto a beach near Kirk Andrews, to the West of Carlisle and at the edge of
the Solway Firth near Carlisle and burnt out.
The registration was cancelled shortly afterwards on 5th December 1921. The company were not insured and folded shortly aftewards.
Pilot - Mr John Oliver AFC, ok.
Passenger - Name unknown, ok.
The aircraft after its crash (photo Mr Jim Rutland).
I have not located the crash site.
John Oliver was born in Wilmslow, Cheshire on 25th July 1898. In 1914 he began work with A V Roe as a "premium apprentice", he learnt
to fly in 1916 and joined the RFC in 1917. He left the RFC/RAF and began a civilian piloting career which lasted for only
a few years as he rejoined the RAF in 1921 and only retired in 1946. Back in civilian life he was appointed to Aviation Manager to the Goodyear
Tyre Company and as A/Comm Oliver he became the Dept Lt. of Staffordshire in 1951.
He died in Budleigh Salterton, Devon on 22nd September 1982, aged 84.