Nyanza | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

On final approach to Kisumu Airport, both pilots were focused on discussions about various subjects and failed to monitor the instruments and the approach procedure. The aircraft landed on its belly and slid for few hundred meters before coming to rest on the runway. All 43 occupants were rescued, among them five passengers were slightly injured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

It was determined that the attention of the crew was focused on various discussions unrelated to the flight operations. Distracted, the crew failed to follow the approach checklist and failed to lower the landing gear. Also, the crew failed to monitor the instruments, causing the aircraft to land at an excessive speed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK off Kisumu: 28 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

6812

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Kisumu – Durban

MSN:

11987

YOM:

1943

Location:

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Shortly after takeoff from Kisumu Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft crashed on an island located in the Winam Bay, northeast part of the Lake Victoria. All 28 occupants were killed, among them SAAF soldiers that were released after being prisoners of war.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty but Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority banned all night takeoffs from Kisumu Airport for several weeks following this accident.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Kisumu: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

FP115

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

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Circumstances:

The seaplane hit the water surface on landing, overturned and sank. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (259th Squadron):
F/O Stanley William Ives, pilot,
F/O Denis Claude William Churchill, pilot,
F/Sgt David Francis Deans, flight engineer,
F/Sgt George Thomas Parsons, navigator,
F/Sgt Noel Wilks, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Laurence Roy McIntosh, wireless operator and air gunner.
Source: http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/12251.php

Probable cause:

Misjudged landing by an inexperienced pilot on the Lake when it was glassy calm.The crew captain was not actually flying the aircraft at the time.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A off Kisumu: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1945 at 0600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

6807

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Delivery

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Blackbushe – Istres – Rome – Athens – Cairo – Wadi Halfa – Khartoum – Juba – Kisumu – Ndola – Pretoria

MSN:

9879

YOM:

1943

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a delivery flight from Blackbushe, UK, to the airbase of Waterkloof located in Pretoria. Several enroute stops were scheduled in Istres, Rome, Athens, Cairo, Wadi Halfa, Khartoum, Juba, Kisumu and Ndola. Shortly after takeoff from Kisumu Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed into Lake Victoria. Both crew members were rescued while the passenger was killed.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the accident may have been caused by katabatic wind that affects the Kisumu region in the early morning.

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:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Cairo – Kisumu – Johannesburg

MSN:

2057

YOM:

1941

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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 an Armstrong Whitworth AW.15 Atalanta in Kisumu: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Armstrong Whitworth AW.15 Atalanta

Operator:

Registration:

G-ABTG

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

London – Kisumu – Cape Town

MSN:

AW.785

YOM:

1932

Location:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Kisumu Airport, the four engine aircraft lost height and impacted the ground nose first before coming to rest. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.50J off Kisumu

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1927

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.50

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBOP

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

London – Cairo – Khartoum – Kisumu – Nairobi

MSN:

281

YOM:

1926

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Circumstances:

The aircraft departed London on a mail flight to Nairobi with intermediate stops in Cairo, Khartoum and Kisumu. While taking off from the Bay of Kisumu, the seaplane collided with floating obstacles (jetsam) and came to rest. The pilot was uninjured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Fairey IIID off Kisumu

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1927

Type of aircraft:

Fairey III

Operator:

Registration:

G-EBPZ

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Private

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

London – Alexandria – Khartoum – Kisumu

MSN:

F.814

YOM:

1927

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Circumstances:

Upon landing on Lake Victoria off Kisumu, one float was sheared off and the aircraft sank. All three occupants evacuated with minor injuries and the aircraft was destroyed.