Salisbury – Lusaka
Flight / Schedule
Salisbury – Lusaka
Aircraft
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)Registration
VP-YKO
MSN
15109/26554
Year of Manufacture
1944
Operator
Central African Airways - CAADate
February 23, 1955 at 09:20 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Harare Harare Province
Region
Africa • Zimbabwe
Coordinates
-17.8261°, 31.0495°
Crash Cause
Technical failure
Narrative Report
On February 23, 1955 at 09:20 AM, Salisbury – Lusaka experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by Central African Airways - CAA, with the event recorded near Harare Harare Province.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
26 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 25 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 3.8%.
Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 21, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is technical failure. Just after liftoff from runway 09, while in initial climb, the crew raised the gear when smoke spread into the cockpit. The captain decided to land immediately. The aircraft belly landed and skidded for dozen yards before it overran and came to rest on a railway. Twenty-five occupants evacuated safely while the flight engineer was killed by a propeller blade coming from the left engine that penetrated the cockpit.
Aircraft reference details include registration VP-YKO, MSN 15109/26554, year of manufacture 1944.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -17.8261°, 31.0495°.
Fatalities
Total
1
Crew
1
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
Just after liftoff from runway 09, while in initial climb, the crew raised the gear when smoke spread into the cockpit. The captain decided to land immediately. The aircraft belly landed and skidded for dozen yards before it overran and came to rest on a railway. Twenty-five occupants evacuated safely while the flight engineer was killed by a propeller blade coming from the left engine that penetrated the cockpit.
Cause: Technical failure
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
5
Passengers On Board
21
Estimated Survivors
25
Fatality Rate
3.8%
Known people on board: 26
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Salisbury – Lusaka
Operator
Central African Airways - CAAFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Africa • Zimbabwe
Aircraft Details
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