§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all accidents or potentially hazardous incidents involving aircraft flying from RAF Upper Heyford while the base has been under the operational control of the United States Air Force.
§ Mr. Neubert[holding answer 7 July 1989]: Since 1970, the period for which records are readily available, there have been 14 accidents to aircraft from the 20th tactical fighter wing based at RAF Upper Heyford. These accidents all took place during training exercises well away from the base. The dates and locations of the accidents are as listed:
503W
Date Aircraft Area 28 May 1970 F-100 The Wash 18 January 1972 F-111E Leuchars, Scotland 11 January 1973 F-111E West of Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire 504W
Date Aircraft Area 15 May 1973 F-111E Kintyre, Scotland 5 March 1975 F-111E Cumbrian Mountains 5 November 1975 F-111E Wainfleet range, Lincolnshire 31 October 1977 F-111E 4 miles North West of Llangadfan 24 July 1979 F-111E North Sea near Wethersea 30 October 1979 F-111E Harlton, Cambridgeshire
Date Aircraft Area 12 December 1979 F-111E Wainfleet range, Lincolnshire 12 December 1979 F-111E Newton Stewart, Scotland 29 April 1980 F-111E Wimborne, Dorset 13 March 1981 F-111E RAF Fairford 9 August 1984 F-111E Tain range, Scotland It is not the practice of the United States Air Force to classify incidents as "potentially hazardous".