Godstone | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Few minutes after takeoff from Croydon Airport, the pilot encountered an unexpected situation and attempted an emergency landing in a field located in Godstone. After landing, the airplane collided with trees and came to rest. The pilot, sole on board, was uninjured.

Crash of a Junkers G.24bi in Godstone: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1929 at 1010 LT

Type of aircraft:

Junkers G.24

Operator:

Registration:

D-903

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Croydon – Amsterdam – Berlin

MSN:

911

YOM:

1925

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Croydon Airport, bound for Berlin with an intermediate stop in Amsterdam, the crew encountered foggy conditions. The captain decided to return to Croydon and reduced his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground. While flying in the vicinity of Godstone, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area, bursting into flames. Three occupants were seriously injured while six other occupants were killed. Few hours later, one of the survivor (Prince Eugen of Schaumburg-Lippe) died from his injuries. Only the copilot and a passenger survived. The aircraft was named 'Oberschlesien'.