4 fatalities

Four-engine aircraft crash shortly after takeoff from Kisumu Airport (G-ABTG)

Kisumu, KenyaTakeoff (climb)

On July 27, 1938, an Armstrong Whitworth AW.15 Atalanta (registration G-ABTG) operated by Imperial Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Kisumu, Kenya during takeoff. 4 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A four-engine aircraft crashed into the ground nose-first shortly after departing Kisumu Airport, resulting in the deaths of all four crew members on board.

What happened

The incident occurred immediately following the departure phase from Kisumu Airport. The aircraft, which was equipped with four engines, experienced a loss of altitude during this critical period. Unable to maintain flight, the machine impacted the terrain nose-first and subsequently came to rest on the ground. The accident resulted in fatal consequences for everyone on board, as all four crew members were killed in the event.

Findings

The source material does not provide specific details regarding the technical investigation outcomes or the precise mechanical or human factors that contributed to the loss of altitude. Consequently, no definitive conclusions about the root cause are available in the provided text.