Narrative:
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.
» De Havilland full production list
» Commons Sitting of 16 March 1937 Series 5 Vol. 321
| Status: | |
| Date: | Tuesday 16 March 1937 |
| Time: | 00:24 |
| Type: | de Havilland DH.86 Express |
| Operator: | Imperial Airways |
| Registration: | G-ACVZ |
| MSN: | 2303 |
| First flight: | |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Elsdorf ( Germany)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | London-Croydon Airport (-/-), United Kingdom |
| Köln-Butzweilerhof Airfield, Germany |
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.
Sources:
» The Times 17 March 1937» De Havilland full production list
» Commons Sitting of 16 March 1937 Series 5 Vol. 321
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from London-Croydon Airport to Köln-Butzweilerhof Airfield as the crow flies is 487 km (304 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from London-Croydon Airport to Köln-Butzweilerhof Airfield as the crow flies is 487 km (304 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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