G-ADYF
Flight / Schedule
G-ADYF
Aircraft
De Havilland DH.86 ExpressRegistration
G-ADYF
MSN
2347
Year of Manufacture
1936
Operator
British AirwaysDate
September 15, 1936 at 12:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Postal (mail)
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
London-Gatwick West Sussex
Region
Europe • United Kingdom
Coordinates
51.1564°, -0.1579°
Crash Cause
Technical failure
Narrative Report
On September 15, 1936 at 12:00 AM, G-ADYF experienced a crash involving De Havilland DH.86 Express, operated by British Airways, with the event recorded near London-Gatwick West Sussex.
The flight was categorized as postal (mail) and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
3 people were known to be on board, 3 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.
Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 3, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is technical failure. The chief pilot of British Airways, Captain W. F. Anderson, and two members of the crew were killed when the four engine aircraft carrying the night mail to Germany crashed soon after taking off from Gatwick Airport. Until the inquest has been held and an investigation made, it is impossible to guess at the cause of this disaster, but there appears to be no doubt that the machine turned through 180 degrees immediately after leaving the airport, lost height, and hit a tree.
Aircraft reference details include registration G-ADYF, MSN 2347, year of manufacture 1936.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 51.1564°, -0.1579°.
Fatalities
Total
3
Crew
3
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
The chief pilot of British Airways, Captain W. F. Anderson, and two members of the crew were killed when the four engine aircraft carrying the night mail to Germany crashed soon after taking off from Gatwick Airport. Until the inquest has been held and an investigation made, it is impossible to guess at the cause of this disaster, but there appears to be no doubt that the machine turned through 180 degrees immediately after leaving the airport, lost height, and hit a tree.
Cause: Technical failure
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
3
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
0
Fatality Rate
100.0%
Known people on board: 3
Operational Details
Operator
British AirwaysFlight Type
Postal (mail)
Flight Phase
Takeoff (climb)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Europe • United Kingdom
Aircraft Details
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