No fatalities

Twin-engine aircraft makes emergency landing in pasture after takeoff from Luton (G-AIKM)

Luton, United KingdomTakeoff (climb)

On April 21, 1949, an Avro 19 (registration G-AIKM) operated by British South American Airways - BSAA was involved in an aviation accident near Luton, United Kingdom during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft encountered a technical issue shortly after departing Luton, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing in a nearby field. Both occupants survived the incident without injury.

What happened

The flight departed Luton when the crew identified an unidentified technical malfunction shortly after liftoff. Recognizing that a return to the departure airport was not feasible, the pilot in command initiated a descent to locate a suitable area for an emergency landing. The aircraft touched down on its belly in a pasture. Following the initial impact, the airframe skidded across the ground for several yards before coming to a complete stop. During this sequence, the left engine was sheared off from the fuselage.

Findings

The investigation noted that both crew members remained unhurt despite the severity of the crash. The aircraft sustained extensive damage and was declared beyond repair.