1952 Farnborough Airshow DH.110 Crash - Aftermath

Aftermath

Both The Queen and Duncan Sandys, the Minister of Supply, sent messages of condolence, and jets at air shows were obliged to keep at least 230 m (750 ft) from crowds if flying straight and 450 m (1,480 ft) when performing manoeuvres and always at an altitude of at least 150 m (490 ft). The coroner's jury recorded the deaths of Derry and Richards as "died accidentally in the normal course of their duty." Of the spectators killed the jury recorded that "the deaths were accidental" adding that "no blame is attached to Mr. John Derry". The accident report of 8 April 1953 stated the manoeuvring had caused an airframe instability due to a faulty D-nose leading edge arrangement (which had successfully been used in the lighter subsonic de Havilland Vampire). The redesigned DH.110 resumed flights in June 1953 and was eventually developed into the successful de Havilland Sea Vixen naval fighter.