Southampton – Brindisi – Mirabella – Alexandria – Durban

On March 24, 1937 at 02:11 PM, Southampton – Brindisi – Mirabella – Alexandria – Durban experienced a crash involving Short S.23 Empire Flying Boat, operated by Imperial Airways, with the event recorded near Ouroux Rhône.

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

6 people were known to be on board, 5 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 83.3%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 1, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The aircraft left Southampton at 1150LT. While overflying Morvan, the radio navigator contacted ground control in Lyon-Bron to obtain a position briefing. While flying in snow falls, the four engine aircraft christened 'Capricornus' hit two pine trees and crashed near Ouroux, some 15 km southwest of Mâcon. The radio navigator survived and walk few km to find help. When he returned to the aircraft, he realize all five other occupants were killed. Crew: A. Paterson, pilot, G. E. Klein, copilot, Denis R. O'Brien, flight clerk, James L. Cooper, radio navigator, F. A. E. Jeffcoate, steward. Passenger: Beatrix 'Betty' Mercy Coats.

Aircraft reference details include registration G-ADVA, MSN S.818, year of manufacture 1936.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 46.2307°, 4.5943°.