KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij

Operator:

Registration:

PH-AFO

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

Melbourne – Alor Setar – Bangkok – Yangon – Amsterdam

MSN:

5236

YOM:

1930

Location:

Bangkok-Don Mueang

Bangkok City District

Country:

Thailand

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was carrying three passengers, a crew of four and 209 kilos of mail. Two takeoff attempts were rejected because the aircraft was too heavy. In such conditions, the captain decided to start the takeoff roll from a further point at the airport. On the third attempt, after a course of 1,500 metres, the aircraft impacted a dirt bank. The undercarriage were torn off and the airplane crashed. The radio operator was seriously injured and all six other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Thaeke Wiersma, pilot,
Jan van Onlangs, copilot,
G. van Zadelhoff, radio operator,
J. F. W. O. Kotte, mechanic.

Probable cause:

The total weight of the aircraft was too high at the time of the accident, this explain why the airplane was unable to leave the ground. Additionally, it appears that a cockpit panel was improperly secured during the takeoff roll that was completed in heavy rain falls, which was considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Fokker F9 in Rotterdam

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1931 at 1210 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F9

Operator:

Registration:

PH-AFK

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Site:

Schedule:

London – Rotterdam – Amsterdam

MSN:

5241

YOM:

1930

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Rotterdam-Waalhaven Airport, bound for Amsterdam-Schiphol, the crew encountered technical problems with the engine n°1. The captain decided to return to the airport when the engine n°3 lost power. On final approach, at a speed of 100 km/h, the airplane lost height and impacted a 7 metres high light pole, causing the left wing to be partially torn off. The airplane stalled and crashed on a railway line. All 13 passengers evacuated safely while both crew members were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the n°1 engine failure could not be determined but investigators did not exclude the possibility that it was the consequence of a technical issue with the fuel system.

Crash of a Fokker F7b/3m near Istanbul

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1929

Type of aircraft:

Marmara Region (Marmara Bölgesi)

Operator:

Registration:

PH-AGB

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Amsterdam – Istanbul – Aleppo – Batavia

MSN:

5179

YOM:

1929

Location:

Istanbul-Yeşilköy

Country:

Turkey

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

About one hour and 30 minutes after takeoff from Istanbul-Yeşilköy Airport, bound for Aleppo, the left engine failed. The crew decided to return to Istanbul but the visibility was poor due to fog. While attempting an emergency landing, the aircraft hit trees and crashed in bushes south of Yeşilköy Airfield. While the copilot and the engineer were slightly injured, the captain was unhurt. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine in flight.

Crash of a Fokker F3 off Rotterdam: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1928 at 1450 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F3

Operator:

Registration:

H-NABR

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Charter/Taxi (Non Scheduled Revenue Flight)

Survivors:

Landing (descent or approach)

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Rotterdam - Rotterdam

MSN:

1533

YOM:

1921

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was completing a local sightseeing flight over the area of Rotterdam, carrying one pilot and five female passengers. Shortly after takeoff from Waalhaven Airport, while climbing to a height of 150 metres, the airplane stalled and crashed in the harbor of Waalhaven. A lady was killed while five other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

On its final report published in November 1928, the investigation board concluded that the accident was caused by an error committed by the pilot who initiated the rotation prematurely. During the initial climb, the speed was insufficient and the aircraft stalled and crashed due to an aerodynamic stall. In their report, investigators confirmed that the general experience of the pilot was on Fokker F7 and not Fokker F3. Thus, his inexperience on this type of aircraft as such as the decision of the Chief of Operations to schedule this pilot on this type of aircraft were considered as contributory factors.

Crash of a Fokker F8 in Nigtevecht

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1928 at 1400 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F8

Operator:

Registration:

H-NAEE

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Malmö – Hamburg – Amsterdam

MSN:

5042

YOM:

1928

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an uneventful flight from Malmö with an intermediate stop in Hamburg, the crew started the descent to Schiphol Airport when the right engine failed at a height of 150-200 meters. The pilot tried to maintain a safe altitude on one engine but he should eventually resign himself to make an emergency landing. On final, while trying to increase power on the left engine, the aircraft rolled to the left and hit the ground before coming to rest in an field. While all 11 occupants were injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Right engine failure caused by a loss of oil pressure.

Crash of a Fokker F8 in Sevenoaks: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1927 at 0830 LT

Type of aircraft:

Fokker F8

Operator:

Registration:

H-NADU

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Croydon – Amsterdam

MSN:

4993

YOM:

1926

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Ten minutes after takeoff from Croydon Airport, while approaching Sevenoaks, the pilot encountered severe vibrations when the aircraft sharply banked to the right. He elected to trim the aircraft without success. The twin engine machine stalled and crashed in a wooded area located in Sevenoaks. The flight engineer J. Brunklaus was killed while all 10 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control due to the physical separation of the rudder (vertical stabilizer) in flight.

Crash of a Fokker F7a in Boisdinghem

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1927 at 1740 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

H-NADQ

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Croydon - Rotterdam - Amsterdam

MSN:

4991

YOM:

1927

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While overflying Pas-de-Calais below the cloud layer, the pilot encountered technical problems and attempted to make an emergency landing in a prairie. On final, he cut the engine when the aircraft impacted the roof of a metallic shed and crashed into trees. While all eight occupants were uninjured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Technical failure.

Crash of a Fokker F7 in Wolvertem: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1926 at 0930 LT

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

H-NACC

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Amsterdam – Rotterdam – Brussels – Paris

MSN:

4759

YOM:

1924

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to Brussels-Zavantem Airport, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions with fog and rain falls. The visibility was reduced and while performing a right turn at low height, the aircraft impacted the ground with its right wing and crashed in a field located in Wolvertem, some 12 km northwest of Zavantem Airport. Both occupants were killed.
Crew:
A. C. de Vree, pilot.
Passenger:
W. Hepner.

Crash of a Fokker F7 off Hythe

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1926

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

H-NACL

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors: