Gaborone - Lilongwe
Flight / Schedule
Gaborone - Lilongwe
Aircraft
Douglas DC-4Registration
A2-ZER
MSN
27242
Year of Manufacture
1944
Operator
Wenela Air ServicesDate
April 4, 1974 at 02:35 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Gaborone-Seretse Khama South-East District
Region
Africa • Botswana
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
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.
Fatalities
Total
78
Crew
3
Passengers
75
Other
0
Crash Summary
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.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
4
Passengers On Board
80
Estimated Survivors
6
Fatality Rate
92.9%
Known people on board: 84
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Gaborone - Lilongwe
Operator
Wenela Air ServicesFlight Type
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Africa • Botswana
Aircraft Details
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