Brussels - Croydon
Flight / Schedule
Brussels - Croydon
Aircraft
Sabca F7Registration
OO-AIL
Date
January 8, 1931 at 11:45 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Postal (mail)
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Crash Location
Melle West Flanders
Region
Europe • Belgium
Coordinates
50.8636°, 3.2209°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On January 8, 1931 at 11:45 PM, Brussels - Croydon experienced a crash involving Sabca F7, operated by SABENA - Société Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne, with the event recorded near Melle West Flanders.
The flight was categorized as postal (mail) and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.
2 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew was performing a night mail flight from Brussels to Croydon and departed Brussels-Haren Airport at 2327LT. Some 15 minutes later, the crew encountered foggy conditions and decided to return to Brussels after he contacted his base. Apparently to maintain a visual contact with the ground, the pilot reduced his altitude when the right wing hit the ground. The aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed. Both occupants were killed. Crew: Gabriel Dery, pilot, Pierre De Ceuster, flight engineer.
Aircraft reference details include registration OO-AIL.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 50.8636°, 3.2209°.
Fatalities
Total
2
Crew
2
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The crew was performing a night mail flight from Brussels to Croydon and departed Brussels-Haren Airport at 2327LT. Some 15 minutes later, the crew encountered foggy conditions and decided to return to Brussels after he contacted his base. Apparently to maintain a visual contact with the ground, the pilot reduced his altitude when the right wing hit the ground. The aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed. Both occupants were killed. Crew: Gabriel Dery, pilot, Pierre De Ceuster, flight engineer.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
2
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 2
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Brussels - Croydon
Flight Type
Postal (mail)
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Region / Country
Europe • Belgium
Aircraft Details
Aircraft
Sabca F7Registration
OO-AIL
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