Incident Overview
Date: Tuesday 16 March 1937
Aircraft Type: de Havilland DH.86 Express
Owner/operator: Imperial Airways
Registration Number: G-ACVZ
Location: Elsdorf –
ÿ Germany
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: Aircraft enginesAircraft engines
Category: Accident
A DH.86 Express passenger and mail flight from Croydon to Cologne, Germany, experienced a significant delay due to weather-related delays. The flight ended with a crash in the woods near Elsdorf, Germany, resulting in the loss of several passengers’ watches and the wreckage of the aircraft. The crash occurred near a large elm tree with significant damage.A DH.86 Express passenger and mail flight from Croydon to Cologne, Germany, experienced a significant delay due to weather-related delays. The flight ended with a crash in the woods near Elsdorf, Germany, resulting in the loss of several passengers’ watches and the wreckage of the aircraft. The crash occurred near a large elm tree with significant damage.
Description
The DH.86 Express departed Croydon on a passenger and mail flight to Cologne, Germany. Departure was delayed from 19:00 hours to 21:30 because the pilot had to wait for the weather forecast. Last contact was near Hasselt, Belgium at 23:18 hours. The wreckage was later found to have crashed in the woods near Elsdorf, Germany. The victims’ watches had stopped at 00.24. Two of the engines lay at the foot of a large elm tree that had been broken in two places by the impact.
Primary Cause
Weather-related delays and subsequent crash.Weather-related delays and subsequent crash.Share on:
