Somerton Miles Magister crash - July 1950
On Tuesday 18th July 1950, a Miles Magister aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Somerton Airfield, Northwood, Isle of Wight killing the pilot, the sole person onboard.
At the inquest into the accident[1], a flying control officer at Cowes Airport reported that the two seater Miles Magister had flown in from Fair Oaks, Surrey about 2.45pm. The pilot left the airfield and returned about 3.35pm and took off a few minutes later.
The pilot made a normal take off and then made a right hand circuit over the west side of the airfield and the Cockleton Farm area. On the second circuit the pilot made a left hand turn when rather low, it was rather a steep turn at low speed and then the plane stalled. The nose of the aircraft dipped and it made about two and a half spins to a field on Cockleton Farm, at the rear of Kingsmead, Place Road, Northwood.
On impact the aircraft burst into flame and the pilot, Mr. Antony Peter Corke (22), was killed.
The young lady Mr. Corke had visited while away from the airfield reported that when he left her he had said he would "beat the house up", which meant that he would come down low over the house and give them a salute.
The inquest jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
- ↑ Isle of Wight County Press 22 July 1950
