Kingston – George Town
Flight / Schedule
Kingston – George Town
Aircraft
Lockheed 18 LodeStarRegistration
VP-JBC
MSN
2568
Year of Manufacture
1943
Operator
Caribbean International AirwaysDate
April 10, 1953 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Crash Location
Kingston Kingston City District
Region
Central America • Jamaica
Crash Cause
Technical failure
Narrative Report
On April 10, 1953 at 12:00 AM, Kingston – George Town experienced a crash involving Lockheed 18 LodeStar, operated by Caribbean International Airways, with the event recorded near Kingston Kingston City District.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.
14 people were known to be on board, 13 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 92.9%.
Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 11, passenger fatalities: 10, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is technical failure. Shortly after takeoff from Kingston-Palisadoes Airport, while climbing to a height of 100-200 feet, the twin engine aircraft banked left, lost height and crashed into the sea. A passenger was rescued while 13 other occupants, were killed. The pilot, Owen Roberts, was the owner of the company. Later, the international Airport of George Town in the Cayman Islands was renamed on his honor.
Aircraft reference details include registration VP-JBC, MSN 2568, year of manufacture 1943.
Fatalities
Total
13
Crew
3
Passengers
10
Other
0
Crash Summary
Shortly after takeoff from Kingston-Palisadoes Airport, while climbing to a height of 100-200 feet, the twin engine aircraft banked left, lost height and crashed into the sea. A passenger was rescued while 13 other occupants, were killed. The pilot, Owen Roberts, was the owner of the company. Later, the international Airport of George Town in the Cayman Islands was renamed on his honor.
Cause: Technical failure
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
3
Passengers On Board
11
Estimated Survivors
1
Fatality Rate
92.9%
Known people on board: 14
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Kingston – George Town
Operator
Caribbean International AirwaysFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Region / Country
Central America • Jamaica
Aircraft Details
Similar Plane Crashes
Pan American World Airways - PAA
Sikorsky S-43
On approach to Kingston, at an altitude of 1,600 feet, the crew modified the fuel selector when the left engine failed. Due to insufficient speed, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea some 16 km off Kingston. All 18 occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft sunk. Crew: Joseph H. Hart, pilot, H. E. Allen, copilot, C. L. Mason, radio navigator, A. C. Lusignani, purser.
South African Airways -SAA - Suid Afrikaanse Lugdiens - SAL
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
While flying in poor weather conditions and low visibility, the crew did not realize his altitude was insufficient. The twin engine aircraft hit a hill near Elands Bay and was destroyed. All 10 occupants were killed, among them three civilians. Crew: Adm Guy W. Hallifax, Col Harold E. Cilliers, Lt Col Gordon P. Shearer, Cpt Fred W. Le Roux. Passengers: Lt J. P. Meyer, Sgt John W. Shelly, Sgt Andries P. Van Wyk, C. P. McMichael, Morris Kaplan, Alexandre Kendierski.
South African Airways -SAA - Suid Afrikaanse Lugdiens - SAL
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
The twin engine aircraft was on delivery when it crashed in unknown circumstances on landing at Cape Town-Wingfield Airport. All three crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The reason for the occurrence remains unknown.
South African Air Force
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with storm activity. When some instruments became out of service, the captain attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest in a marshy field located near the Dodo River, in the region of Brass. There was no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Panair do Brasil
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
On approach to Sao Paulo-Congonhas Airport, the crew was forced to make a go around for undetermined reasons. While circling for a new approach, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path to the south and hit the slope of a mountain located in the Cantareira Mountain Range, some 24 km south of the airport. Six occupants were rescued while eight others were killed.
Royal Netherlands East Indies Air Force - ML-KNIL
Lockheed 18 LodeStar
Five minutes after take off from the Batavia-Kemayoran Airport, while climbing, an engine failed. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing but the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on a house in the suburb of the capital city. All five occupants in the aircraft were killed as well as seven people in the house. The Lt Gen Berenschot was returning to his headquarter in Bandung following an international conference in Batavia with Gen Popham of the British Empire Army Forces. Crew: Johan Christiaan Frederik Knapp, pilot, Cpt Watkins, pilot, Franciscus van Kampen, Eelco Heinrich Felix de Haan. Passenger: Lt Gen Gerardus Johannes Berenschot.