Region
Africa

Crash of a Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar in Mt Kinangop: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGBW
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cairo – Juba – Nairobi – Salisbury
MSN:
2094
YOM:
1941
Location:
Mt Kinangop
Central
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew just started the descent to Nairobi when the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Kinangop located in the Aberdare mountain range. All 11 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced due to marginal weather conditions. The wreckage was found on January 1st, 1945.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland near Voi: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
EJ140
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Voi
Coast
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While flying in poor weather conditions on an international flight from Mombasa, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Sangalla Hills located south of Voi. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-08-01 LodeStar off Kisumu: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
248
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cairo – Kisumu – Johannesburg
MSN:
2057
YOM:
1941
Location:
Kisumu
Nyanza
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
After take off from Kisumu Airport, while climbing by night, the crew encountered technical problems to raise the undercarriage because an electrical failure occurred on the undercarriage safety lock circuit. The captain decided to return to Kisumu but the twin engine aircraft crashed into the gulf of Kavirondo, 13 km off Kisumu. All 12 occupants were killed.
Crew (61st Squadron):
Cpt J. D. Mail,
Lt W. B. Lloyd,
Sgt C. V. Flusk,
Cpl LaFayette.
Passengers:
Maj Gen D. H. Pienaar ,
Col F. Theron,
Lt/Col E. V. Frykberg,
Lt/Col E. L. Mackenzie,
Maj J. W. A. Bell,
Maj F. Rawlins,
Cpt P. Bairnsfather-Cloete,
Sgt A. F. Weldon.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
The combined difficulties of endeavouring to raise the undercarriage and maintain height and speed with a fully loaded aircraft during a night take-off under unfavourable flying conditions gave rise to an error of judgement in which the pilot allowed the aircraft to fly into the water. A contributory cause was the fatigue of the 'elderly pilot' who had flown 1800 miles in the previous 24 hours and had only 6 hours sleep and was trying to reach South Africa at the special request of General Pienaar as soon as possible. No evidence of sabotage was found.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Nakuru

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L6659
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Nakuru - Nakuru
Location:
Nakuru
Rift Valley
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Nakuru Airstrip on behalf of the 70 OTU. During the takeoff roll, a tyre burst. The airplane swung and the undercarriage collapsed. Both crew members escaped uninjured while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
P/O King, instructor,
Sgt McDonald, student pilot.
Probable cause:
A tyre burst during takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I in Nakuru

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
K7099
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
8052
YOM:
1937
Location:
Nakuru
Rift Valley
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane overshot on landing, struck a ditch and came to rest. There were no injuries among the crew and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth in Nairobi

Date & Time: May 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth
Operator:
Registration:
1411
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7129
YOM:
1935
Location:
Nairobi
Nairobi City District
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine airplane crashed for unknown reasons while taking off from Nairobi Airport. The pilot, sole on board, was uninjured.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-N2 Super Electra in Nairobi: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
AX688
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Germiston – Dodoma – Nairobi – Heliopolis
MSN:
1419
YOM:
1938
Location:
Nairobi-Wilson
Nairobi City District
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a cross continent flight from Germiston, South Africa, to Heliopolis, Egypt, with intermediate stops in Dodoma, Tanzania, and Nairobi, Kenya. The crew attempted to take off in poor weather conditions (strong winds and heavy rain falls). Shortly after take off from Nairobi-Wilson Airport, while climbing to a height of some 500 feet, the twin engine aircraft rolled to the left, entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a huge explosion. All six occupants were killed.
Crew:
S/L Frank Mackenzie Loudon, pilot,
F/L Harry George Ernest Davis, pilot.
Passengers:
Cpl Dennis Montague Carrington Cotton,
Lt John Guthrie Kneen,
Cpt Arthur Desmond Knox-Perkins,
Cptn Jan Jozua Van Nouhuys.

Crash of a Caproni Ca.133 in Garissa

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Caproni Ca.133
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Garissa
North Eastern
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a combat mission, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crash landed, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire and all crew members became PoW, among them Sgt Mah Miniati.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60GIII Moth Major in Nairobi: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 12, 1940
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Kenya Auxiliary Air Unit
Registration:
K22
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
5100
YOM:
1934
Location:
Nairobi-Eastleigh (Moi Air Base)
Nairobi City District
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Nairobi-Eastleigh Airport, the single engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth in Kitale

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1939
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.80 Puss Moth
Operator:
Registration:
VP-KAY
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Njoro – Kitale
MSN:
2076
YOM:
1933
Location:
Kitale
Rift Valley
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing in Kitale. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all three occupants were injured.
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