Air Transport - Belgium | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Just after liftoff, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. All 14 occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire. The crew was completing a flight from Belgian Congo to Brussels via Sudan.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling V in Kunming: 25 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Short S.29 Stirling

Operator:

Air Transport - Belgium

Registration:

OO-XAC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Brussels – Paris – Rome – Beyrouth – Karachi – Kunming – Shanghai

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Kunming Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located 3 km from the airport. Five passengers were seriously injured while all 25 other occupants were killed. It appears that three of the four engines failed shortly after rotation. All passengers were Belgian missionaries.

Probable cause:

Failure of three engine during initial climb.