Croydon – Cologne

On March 15, 1937 at 11:20 PM, Croydon – Cologne experienced a crash involving De Havilland DH.86 Express, operated by Imperial Airways, with the event recorded near Cologne-Bonn North Rhine-Westphalia.

The flight was categorized as charter/taxi (non scheduled revenue flight) and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a plain, valley 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: 2, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The four engine aircraft left Croydon Airport for Cologne at 2130LT with no mail on board. At 2258LT, while overflying Belgium, the radio navigator informed ATC he was flying in good visibility with no icing conditions. Approaching Cologne-Butzweilerhof Airport, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Elsdorf, some 35 km west of the airport. All three occupants were killed. Crew: C. B. Holmes, pilot, C. E. Langman, wireless operator. Passenger: C. F. Wolley Dod, Imperial Airways European Manager.

Aircraft reference details include registration G-ACVZ, MSN 2303, year of manufacture 1934.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 50.9193°, 6.8253°.