Amsterdam – Brussels – Paris

Less than five minutes after takeoff from Brussels-Haren Airport, while climbing to a height of some 1,200 feet, aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in a wheat field located 300 metres from Brages' station. All 15 occupants were killed. The aircraft was christened 'Flamingo'. Crew: Cornelius Theo Regnerus Steensma, pilot, Bernardus Ludekuize, radio navigator, Gerardus Geering, engineer, Martha Johanna van der Laan, stewardess. Passengers: A. Bloem, W. Canton, M. Goldbloom, B. F. Mun, N. Nathans, C. Tondreau, R. Tondreau-Tollenaere, R. Trillo, F. Wetzlar, H. Wapperom, G. Whitehouse.

Flight / Schedule

Amsterdam – Brussels – Paris

Aircraft

Douglas DC-2

Registration

PH-ALF

MSN

1585

Year of Manufacture

1936

Date

July 28, 1937 at 10:40 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Brussels Flemish Brabant

Region

Europe • Belgium

Coordinates

50.8793°, 4.4376°

Crash Cause

Technical failure

Narrative Report

On July 28, 1937 at 10:40 AM, Amsterdam – Brussels – Paris experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-2, operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, with the event recorded near Brussels Flemish Brabant.

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

15 people were known to be on board, 15 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: 11, passenger fatalities: 11, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. Less than five minutes after takeoff from Brussels-Haren Airport, while climbing to a height of some 1,200 feet, aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in a wheat field located 300 metres from Brages' station. All 15 occupants were killed. The aircraft was christened 'Flamingo'. Crew: Cornelius Theo Regnerus Steensma, pilot, Bernardus Ludekuize, radio navigator, Gerardus Geering, engineer, Martha Johanna van der Laan, stewardess. Passengers: A. Bloem, W. Canton, M. Goldbloom, B. F. Mun, N. Nathans, C. Tondreau, R. Tondreau-Tollenaere, R. Trillo, F. Wetzlar, H. Wapperom, G. Whitehouse.

Aircraft reference details include registration PH-ALF, MSN 1585, year of manufacture 1936.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 50.8793°, 4.4376°.

Fatalities

Total

15

Crew

4

Passengers

11

Other

0

Crash Summary

Less than five minutes after takeoff from Brussels-Haren Airport, while climbing to a height of some 1,200 feet, aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in a wheat field located 300 metres from Brages' station. All 15 occupants were killed. The aircraft was christened 'Flamingo'. Crew: Cornelius Theo Regnerus Steensma, pilot, Bernardus Ludekuize, radio navigator, Gerardus Geering, engineer, Martha Johanna van der Laan, stewardess. Passengers: A. Bloem, W. Canton, M. Goldbloom, B. F. Mun, N. Nathans, C. Tondreau, R. Tondreau-Tollenaere, R. Trillo, F. Wetzlar, H. Wapperom, G. Whitehouse.

Cause: Technical failure

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

4

Passengers On Board

11

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 15

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Amsterdam – Brussels – Paris

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Takeoff (climb)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Europe • Belgium

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Douglas DC-2

Registration

PH-ALF

MSN

1585

Year of Manufacture

1936

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