DH.60 Cirrus Moth G-AAPA near Hedon, Hull.
At around 22.00hrs on Wednesday, 17th July 1935 this aircraft was being flown in the general area of Hedon, east of Hull when it crashed onto farmland in the Westfield area. I have yet to obtain any detailed account of the accident but from other references located to the incident it appears that the pilot was possibly undertaking a series of stunt manoeuvres including looping the aircraft. During one loop he either lost control during a spin or he began a loop while flying too low to successfully complete the loop. The aircraft dived into the ground. The passenger in the aircraft was killed but the pilot was thrown out on impact and survived but was left unable to walk again.
Pilot - Mr Albert Bishop Croskin, of Anlaby Park, Hull. Seriously injured.
Passenger - Mr Keith Leonard Atkin, aged 26, of Faraday Street, Hull. Buried Hull Northern Cemetery, Yorkshire.
The aircraft was based at Hedon airfield, Hull for much of it's life but was first registered on the civilian register to National Flying Services Ltd, Hanworth in August 1929 though was probably operated by the Hull Aero Club during their ownership. N.F.S.Ltd. became bankrupt in the early 1930s so the aircraft was re-registered by The Master of Sempill, Hanworth on 27th June 1933 though appears to have remained with Hull Aero Club. The Hull Aero Club then bought the aircraft and it was registered to them on 5th March 1935. It was destroyed following the crash in July 1935 but it took until the end of the year for it to be recorded as withdrawn from use.
Albert Croskin was born in Caistor, Lincolnshire on 12th March 1894. He married Florence Allen in the Hull area in 1918 and their son Antony Croskin was born in Hull on 30th July 1920. Albert was awarded a Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate (Cert.No.11281) at the Hull Aero Club, Hedon on 23rd July 1933. He was appointed into the social committee of the Hull Aero Club in 1934. His son would serve in the RAF in WW2, he had reached the rank of F/Lt by the time he was also awarded the Royal Aero Club Aviators' Certificate (Cert.No.20612) at RAF Bishopscourt, Northern Ireland on 3rd October 1945.