Country
United Kingdom

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89B Dragon Rapide in Seno

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1954
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
F-BAHY
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6276
YOM:
1935
Location:
Seno
Savannakhét Province
Country:
Laos
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft hit trees and crashed in a wooded area. All five occupants were injured.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Frankfurt

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1954
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Autair Ltd
Registration:
G-AGUR
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Luton – Frankfurt
MSN:
6910
YOM:
1945
Location:
Frankfurt-Main
Hesse
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A tire burst on landing. For unknown reason, the captain decided to go around when the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed near the runway end. The airplane was destroyed and all seven occupants were injured.

Ground fire of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide at H3 Oil Station

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1954
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Arab Contracting & Trading Company
Registration:
OD-ABH
Flight Phase:
Parking
Flight Type:
Executive/Corporate/Business
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
H3 Oil Station - Beirut
MSN:
6469
YOM:
1939
Location:
H3 Oil Station
Al-Anbar (الأنبار)
Country:
Iraq
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the engine startup, the left engine caught fire. All six occupants were able to evacuate the cabin before the airplane would be destroyed by fire. The aircraft was preparing for a flight from H3 Oil Station (Southwest) located about 450 km west of Baghdad to Beirut, Lebanon.
Probable cause:
The left engine caught fire during startup.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Lod

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1954
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
4X-AEH
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Lod – Eilat
MSN:
6496
YOM:
1941
Location:
Lod (לוֹד)
Central District
Country:
Israel
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
At liftoff, an engine failed. The aircraft overturned and crashed upside down. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure at takeoff.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide near Jodhpur: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1954
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Aeroservices
Registration:
G-AKLA
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Jodhpur – Hanoi
MSN:
6764
YOM:
1947
Location:
Jodhpur
Rajasthan
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Jodhpur Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances about 60 km east of the city. Both pilots were killed. They were in charge to deliver the airplane in Hanoi.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Labasa

Date & Time: Apr 26, 1954
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
VQ-FAL
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Labasa – Nadi
MSN:
6707
YOM:
1944
Location:
Labasa
All Fiji Islands
Country:
Fiji Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Labasa Airport, the left engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. All six occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Lynge

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1954
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
OY-ACZ
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
6888
YOM:
1945
Location:
Lynge
Nordjylland
Country:
Denmark
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While completing an ambulance flight, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing following a fuel exhaustion. The twin engine aircraft crash landed in a field located in Lynge. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Simonburn

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1954
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Oldstead Airlines
Registration:
G-AFMF
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Newcastle – Dublin
MSN:
6432
YOM:
1938
Location:
Simonburn
Northumberland
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Ten minutes after his departure from Newcastle Airport, the pilot encountered severe icing conditions and the leading edge were contaminated with ice. At an altitude of 3,200 feet and while in a flat attitude, the twin engine aircraft hit the ground and crashed in fire. All eight occupants were seriously injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the pilot failed to prepare the flight according to procedures as he started the mission without any information about weather conditions along the route. Thus, he was unaware of the icing conditions. It was also reported that the aircraft was not equipped with deice/anti-ice systems, which was against the regulations and considered as a contributory factor.
Final Report:

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89A Dragon Rapide in Butiaba

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1954
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
VP-KEA
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Butiaba – Entebbe
MSN:
6890
YOM:
1945
Location:
Butiaba
Western
Country:
Uganda
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The American writer Ernest Hemingway and his wife Mary were completing a safari in the region of the Muchison Falls in Uganda when their Cessna 180 registered VP-KLI hit a utility pole and crashed in a field on January 23. As they were wounded, it was decided to transfer them to Entebbe and a DH.89 of East African Airways was chartered. While taking off from Butiaba Airstrip, the Dragon exploded and crashed in flames. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were seriously injured and burned.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the mishap remains unclear.
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