Cologne - Brussels - Croydon

On December 30, 1933 at 01:15 PM, Cologne - Brussels - Croydon experienced a crash involving Avro 618 Ten, operated by Imperial Airways, with the event recorded near Ruiselede West Flanders.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

10 people were known to be on board, 10 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: 8, passenger fatalities: 8, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The crew was completing an international schedule service from Cologne to Croydon with an intermediate stop in Brussels. The aircraft departed Brussels-Haren Airport at 1220LT with eight passengers and two crew members on board. While overflying the West Flanders, the crew encountered poor visibility due to foggy conditions. Apparently lost, the crew deviated from the prescribed flight path by 15 km when the captain decided to reduce his altitude to establish a visual contact with the ground. At a height of about 250 feet, the airplane collided with a 270 metres high radio antenna. Upon impact, the right wing was torn off and the airplane crashed in an open field, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants were killed, among them seven British, two Dutch and one Polish.

Aircraft reference details include registration G-ABLU, MSN 528, year of manufacture 1931.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 51.0412°, 3.3973°.