London – Paris – Pisa – Rome – Cairo

On May 17, 1919 at 12:00 AM, London – Paris – Pisa – Rome – Cairo experienced a crash involving Handley Page H.P.12, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Rome-Centocelle Lazio.

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

5 people were known to be on board, 2 fatalities were recorded, 3 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 40.0%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 2, passengers on board: 1, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The aircraft departed London on a flight to Cairo, carrying four crew members. In Paris, one passenger, Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence (awa Lawrence of Arabia) embarked to fly to Cairo after taking part to the 1919 Peace Conference in Paris. While approaching Rome-Centocelle Airport at dusk, the pilot encountered limited visibility and attempted a go-around procedure when the aircraft clipped a tree and crashed upside down. Both pilots were killed and three other occupants were injured. Crew: 2nd Lt Frederick George Prince, pilot, † 2nd Lt Sydney Spratt, pilot, † Aircraftman F. J. Daw +1. Passenger: Colonel Thomas Edward Lawrence.

Aircraft reference details include registration D5439.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 41.8809°, 12.5630°.