London – Bordeaux – Lagos
Flight / Schedule
London – Bordeaux – Lagos
Aircraft
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)Registration
G-AGJX
MSN
12014
Year of Manufacture
1944
Date
January 11, 1947 at 05:30 PM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Crash Location
Stowting Kent
Region
Europe • United Kingdom
Coordinates
51.1345°, 1.0322°
Crash Cause
Technical failure
Narrative Report
On January 11, 1947 at 05:30 PM, London – Bordeaux – Lagos experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC, with the event recorded near Stowting Kent.
The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.
16 people were known to be on board, 8 fatalities were recorded, 8 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 50.0%.
Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 11, passenger fatalities: 4, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is technical failure. The aircraft left London at 0930LT on a flight to Lagos with an ETA at 1400LT in Bordeaux, an intermediate stop. While descending to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided not to land. The captain diverted to Paris-Le Bourget instead Toulouse but was unable to land, because the weather was poor. He elected to divert to Cormeilles-en-Vexin but again, landing was impossible. He finally decided to return to London but while overflying Kent, fuel exhausted and the crew was forced to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed in a field located in Stowting and was destroyed. Four crew members and four passengers were killed.
Aircraft reference details include registration G-AGJX, MSN 12014, year of manufacture 1944.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 51.1345°, 1.0322°.
Fatalities
Total
8
Crew
4
Passengers
4
Other
0
Crash Summary
The aircraft left London at 0930LT on a flight to Lagos with an ETA at 1400LT in Bordeaux, an intermediate stop. While descending to Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided not to land. The captain diverted to Paris-Le Bourget instead Toulouse but was unable to land, because the weather was poor. He elected to divert to Cormeilles-en-Vexin but again, landing was impossible. He finally decided to return to London but while overflying Kent, fuel exhausted and the crew was forced to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crashed in a field located in Stowting and was destroyed. Four crew members and four passengers were killed.
Cause: Technical failure
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
5
Passengers On Board
11
Estimated Survivors
8
Fatality Rate
50.0%
Known people on board: 16
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
London – Bordeaux – Lagos
Flight Type
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Flight Phase
Flight
Crash Site
Plain, Valley
Region / Country
Europe • United Kingdom
Aircraft Details
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