Incident Overview
Date: Monday 1 May 1939
Aircraft Type: Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat Mk I
Owner/operator: Imperial Airways
Registration Number: G-ADVD
Location: Lumbo lagoon, Ilha da Mocambique –
ÿ Mozambique
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 6
Component Affected: Aircraft systems, specifically the landing gear and control systems during the second approach.Aircraft systems, specifically the landing gear and control systems during the second approach.
Category: Accident
An aircraft experienced a delay due to a crash during an overnight landing attempt near Mombassa, Mozambique. The aircraft crashed on the second approach, causing the flying boat to porpoise just short of the landing jetty. Both the radio officer and flight clerk perished.An aircraft experienced a delay due to a crash during an overnight landing attempt near Mombassa, Mozambique. The aircraft crashed on the second approach, causing the flying boat to porpoise just short of the landing jetty. Both the radio officer and flight clerk perished.
Description
Aircraft was late on schedule having had to overnight at Dar es Salaam or Mombassa. It crashed on second approach attempt, the flying boat porpoising just short of the landing jetty. Tom Webb, radio Officer aged 33 and George Knight flight clerk died in the accident and their graves are at the cemetery on the Ilha da Mocambique.
Primary Cause
Mechanical failure during the second approach, likely involving a loss of control or a malfunction of the aircraft’s systems.Mechanical failure during the second approach, likely involving a loss of control or a malfunction of the aircraft’s systems.Share on:
