Brussels – Croydon

On December 10, 1935 at 04:45 PM, Brussels – Croydon experienced a crash involving Savoia-Marchetti SM.73, operated by SABENA - Société Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne, with the event recorded near Croydon Surrey.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

11 people were known to be on board, 11 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 7, passenger fatalities: 7, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Crew started the approach to Croydon in poor visibility due to clouds and at sunset. While flying too low, the three engine aircraft hit tree tops, stalled and crashed into flames in a wooded area located some 13 km short of runway, near Tatsfield. All eleven occupants were killed. Crew: Jean Schroonbroodt, pilot, Jean Desmet, radio navigator, Alphonse Verbinnen, engineer, Raymond Strechfuss, steward.

Aircraft reference details include registration OO-AGN, MSN 30004, year of manufacture 1935.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 51.3734°, -0.1020°.