No fatalities

1927 Aircraft Collision with Power Lines in Lahore (G-EBKU)

Lahore, PakistanLanding (descent or approach)

On April 2, 1927, a De Havilland DH.60 Moth (registration G-EBKU) operated by Bernard M. T. Shute Leete was involved in an aviation accident near Lahore, Pakistan during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Collision with power cables due to flying too low on final approach, leading to an engine stall and crash. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

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

A private aircraft struck power cables during a low final approach near Lahore in February 1927, resulting in minor injuries to the two occupants and total loss of the airframe.

What happened

On 15 February 1927, a private aircraft was conducting demonstration flights in the vicinity of the airport in Lahore, Punjab. The pilot had previously completed a long-distance journey from London, arriving in Karachi on 8 January 1927 and reaching Lahore shortly after. Following several maneuvering exercises near the airfield, the pilot initiated a final turn to join the runway for landing.

During the approach phase, the aircraft was flying at an altitude that was too low for the conditions. As it descended, the airframe collided with overhead power cables. This impact caused the engine to stall, leading to a crash where the machine came to rest upside down. Both individuals on board sustained minor injuries, but the aircraft was destroyed in the accident.

Findings

The primary contributing factor identified in the sequence of events was the pilot's decision to fly too low during the final approach segment. This low altitude resulted in a collision with infrastructure (power cables), which directly caused the stall and subsequent crash.

Probable cause

Collision with power cables due to flying too low on final approach, leading to an engine stall and crash.