On April 26, 1949, a Beechcraft D18 (registration PH-UDI) operated by Rijksluchtvaartschool - RLS was involved in an aviation accident near Amsterdam, Netherlands in flight. 5 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The official investigation attributed the accident to engine failure. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A local training flight at Amsterdam-Schiphol ended in a fatal crash when the remaining operative engine failed shortly after a voluntary shutdown, killing all five crew members.
What happened
The incident involved a five-person crew comprising one instructor and four student pilots. They were conducting a local training mission in the vicinity of Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport. During the flight, the group executed a planned procedure to shut down one engine voluntarily to continue instruction on a single powerplant.
Moments after this maneuver, the remaining operational engine experienced an unexpected failure. The loss of thrust caused the aircraft to stall, leading to a crash into the bank of a nearby canal. The impact resulted in a post-crash fire that destroyed the airframe and killed all five individuals on board.
Probable cause
The official investigation attributed the accident to engine failure.
What happened in the 26 Apr 1949 Beechcraft D18 accident near Amsterdam, Netherlands?
A local training flight at Amsterdam-Schiphol ended in a fatal crash when the remaining operative engine failed shortly after a voluntary shutdown, killing all five crew members.
Were there any fatalities in the 26 Apr 1949 Beechcraft D18 accident?
The accident was fatal, resulting in 5 fatalities.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 26 Apr 1949 involved a Beechcraft D18, registration PH-UDI, operated by Rijksluchtvaartschool - RLS, at Amsterdam, Netherlands.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The official investigation attributed the accident to engine failure.
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