Mapai - Harare

On May 31, 1977 at 08:00 PM, Mapai - Harare experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by Air Force of Zimbabwe, with the event recorded near Mapai Gaza.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

4 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 3 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 25.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is terrorism act, hijacking, sabotage. Shortly after takeoff from Mapai Airport, while in initial climb, the airplane was shot down by a RPG7 and crashed in flames in a field. The captain was killed while three other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. Crew: Bruce Collocott, pilot, † Jerry Lynch, copilot +2.

Aircraft reference details include registration R3702, MSN 13965/25310, year of manufacture 1944.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately -22.6209°, 32.4813°.