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Old 10th Aug 2008, 20:07
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Warmtoast
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Pam Cambell

The major facts relating to his accident are available in the Royal Aero Club Archives. I haven't seen the Times Digital Archives entries.

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Royal Aero Club — Notices to Members — August 10th 1912
It is a most regrettable incident that has to be chronicled of a sad accident to Mr. Lindsay Campbell on Saturday morning [August 3rd, 1912] while flying a 50-h.p. Bristol monoplane at Brooklands. Mr. Campbell had some weeks previously taken his brevet upon a biplane, and was staying at Brooklands with the object of learning to fly the monoplane.
He had on the previous evening made a remarkably good flight upon the same machine, flying a couple of circuits of Brooklands at about 600 ft., terminating with a splendid landing. On the next morning, Saturday, he was allowed to take the machine up again, and was flying his second circuit at about 500 ft. when he was seen to get into difficulties. His engine stopped (and it appeared to onlookers that he had switched off), and naturally the machine lost way and side-slipped. Mr. Campbell then did the right thing by diving, and, as it appeared, regained proper control, but he was not able to get his engine going again and so had to come down, with the result that he smashed upon landing. The machine was not smashed as badly as the accident would make one believe, as the whole of the pilot’s seat and surroundings of fuselage were perfectly intact. Poor Campbell did not survive, though many pilots have stepped out of much worse smashes with a smile. The good fellow was fatally injured through being thrown with such force against the padded cross member of the fuselage with the result that his chest was badly crushed with internal damage. It is so very regrettable an accident from points other than personalities, as Mr. Campbell was not only a marked favourite at several aerodromes amongst everyone who knew him, but he was also in this country learning to fly in the interests of aviation in general, as he had been commissioned by the Australian Commonwealth to take a leading hand in the founding of aviation for the Australian Army, and when speaking to him upon the subject he was always enthusiastically optimistic upon the success they were going to make out there. It is a curious coincidence that he obtained his Royal Aero Club certificate on his 49th birthday—May 19th. He will be a great loss to the Commonwealth, not so much as a flyer, but as an excellent organiser and hard worker, a man of iron nerves, and always ready to give a helping hand to anyone. Everyone’s sympathy is extended to his wife and two children (one 4 years old, the other 16 months) who are his only relatives in this country, and who cannot as yet realise the irreparable loss they have sustained. Mrs. Lindsay Campbell is staying at 71, Shirland Road, Maida Vale, W.

Royal Aero Club — Notices to Members — August 21st 1912

BROOKLANDS ACCIDENT.—Report of the fatal accident to Mr. C. Lindsay Campbell, when flying at Brooklands, on Saturday, August 3rd, 1912, at about 6.20 a.m.
Brief Description of the Accident.—Mr. C. Lindsay Campbell was flying on a Bristol monoplane at Brooklands, on August 3rd, 1912, at a height of about 300 ft., when the engine was observed to stop. The machine shortly afterwards dived about 200 ft., but straightened out. A second dive, however, followed. The machine struck the ground, and Mr. Lindsay Campbell received fatal injuries.
Report.—The Special Committee sat on Tuesday, August 20th, 1912, at Larkhill, Salisbury Plain, and heard the evidence of Mr. R. L. Charteris. Written reports of eye witnesses were also considered. From the consideration of this evidence the Committee is of opinion that the following facts are clearly established:—
(1) That the accident originated, at a height of about 300 ft., by the aviator keeping the machine in a horizontal position after the engine had stopped, thereby losing flying speed.
(2) That the aircraft then side-slipped, but on diving regained speed and recovered its normal flying position. The engine, at this point, gave a few intermittent explosions, but failed to pick up, and the aircraft being again held in a horizontal position once more underwent a side slip and vertical dive, hitting the ground at a steep angle.
(3) That there is no reason to suppose that the structural failure of any part of the aircraft was the cause of the accident.
(4) That the aviator was not thrown out of his seat and was not wearing either belt or helmet.
(5) Mr. C. Lindsay Campbell was granted his aviator’s certificate No. 220, on the 4th June, 1912, by the Royal Aero Club.
Opinion.—The Committee is of opinion that the accident was due to the aviator failing to appreciate the danger of keeping the aircraft in a horizontal position after the engine had stopped, thereby losing flying speed and control of the aircraft.
The Committee is also of opinion that since that portion of the aircraft in which the aviator was seated was undamaged, his life might have, perhaps, been saved had he used a helmet and belt, as his injuries were caused by his being thrown violently forward against the structure.
It was unanimously resolved that these reports be forwarded to the Executive Committee with a recommendation that they be published in extenso
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