What happened
On 19 February 1955, an Avro Lincoln bomber, registration SX984, was returning to Eastleigh aerodrome following a combat mission over the Kipipiri Forest. During the return flight, the pilot performed unauthorized low-altitude passes over the Police Officers' Mess located near Githunguri.
While executing the third pass, the aircraft struck several structures, including three rondavel huts and a chimney. The impact caused significant damage to the starboard wing, tail plane, and lower rudder. Following the collision, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled climb before stalling and entering a vertical dive. The plane crashed approximately 500 meters from the police station.
The accident resulted in five fatalities among the aircrew and four civilian deaths, including one child. Of the six crew members on board, five died instantly upon impact. One crew member, the tail gunner, was ejected from the aircraft but succumbed to severe burns and injuries at a Nairobi hospital several hours later.
Findings
Investigations into the crash determined that the primary cause was the pilot's decision to perform unauthorized low-level maneuvers near residential structures, which led to the aircraft striking buildings and losing structural integrity.