On 7th July 1959 this aircraft flew into a low bank on the side of a reservoir next to Yeadon airfield and appears to have come to rest in the water itself. I have not located any better information regarding this incident. The reservoir was probably Yeadon Tarn. It was owned by Whiteley (Rishworth) Ltd, Rishforth, Halifax but appears to have been operated by Yorkshire Flying Services Ltd, based at Yeadon and who undertook civilian flying training as one of their activities.
Pilot - Mr A E Dyer.
Passenger - Name unknown.
This aircraft was initially an RAF aircraft and carried the military serial DE676. On 7th November 1943 it was being flown on a training flight, flying out of Hucknall airfield with 25 E.F.T.S. with a trainee pilot at the controls. During the flight the aircraft crashed on land to the east of Huddersfield, in the Upper Heaton / Nab Hill area. It was repaired and sustained damage in a flying accident on 23rd December 1944 when it was forced landed between Coltishall and Bradwell Bay. Again it was repaired and survived the War. Postwar much more information is known. DE676 was sold off by the RAF and was first registered on the UK civilian register as G-AITD on 31st October 1946 to Lockwoods Flying Service Ltd, based at Speeton, East Yorkshire. Lockwoods Flying Service Ltd was wound up as a company in December 1949 so the aircraft appears to have been an asset and was sold off. It next appears registered to W.S.Shackleton Ltd, who's office was Piccadilly, London, and was registered by them on 1st June 1950 but this was probably only a paper transfer. During 1950 it may not have actually left Yorkshire because by the end of November 1950 it was back in Yorkshire, this time being owned by the East Riding Flying Club (Speeton) Ltd and was based at Bridlington aerodrome (possibly still at the same Speeton airstrip). It was then sold to Whiteley (Rishworth) Ltd, registered to them on 7th July 1954 and it appears to have been based at Rishworth, Halifax. On 7th July 1959 it was being operated by the Yorkshire Flying Services Ltd when it flew into a low bank on the side of a reservoir next to Yeadon aerodrome and came to rest in the water itself. The pilot and passenger survived but the aircraft was badly damaged both by the impact and by water. After this incident it was not repaired and was finally recorded as being destroyed on the paperwork much later on 11th March 1963.
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