3 fatalities

Fatal aircraft accident at Lusaka Airport (AF-601)

Lusaka, ZambiaTakeoff (climb)

On August 26, 1969, an Avro 748 (registration AF-601) operated by Zambia Air Force was involved in an aviation accident near Lusaka, Zambia during takeoff. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft lost control during the initial climb phase shortly after takeoff. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 6 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed during its initial climb from Lusaka Airport, resulting in three fatalities and one survivor.

What happened

During an ascent from Lusaka Airport, an aircraft experienced a loss of control shortly after departing the runway. While the plane was attempting to reach an altitude of 150 feet, it became unstable and impacted the ground.

There were four people on board at the time of the accident. The impact resulted in three fatalities, leaving only one crew member to survive the crash.

Findings

The investigation into the sequence of events indicates that the loss of control occurred during the early climb phase, specifically while the aircraft was still at a very low altitude.

Probable cause

The aircraft lost control during the initial climb phase shortly after takeoff.