Gaborone - Lilongwe

On April 4, 1974 at 02:35 AM, Gaborone - Lilongwe experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-4, operated by Wenela Air Services, with the event recorded near Gaborone-Seretse Khama South-East District.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

84 people were known to be on board, 78 fatalities were recorded, 6 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 92.9%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 80, passenger fatalities: 75, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Shortly after a night takeoff from Gaborone-Seretse Khama Airport, the crew encountered problems with all four engines that lost power and backfired. Unable to gain sufficient height, the aircraft struck tree tops, stalled and crashed in flames 3,600 meters past the runway end, two minutes after liftoff. A crew member and five passengers were rescued while 78 other occupants were killed. Most of the passengers were employees of South African Mining Company returning home.

Aircraft reference details include registration A2-ZER, MSN 27242, year of manufacture 1944.