2 fatalities

Aerobatic Training Flight Crash Near Sheikh Othman (K1893)

Aden, YemenFlight

On January 11, 1938, a De Havilland DH.60 Moth (registration K1893) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Aden, Yemen in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Structural failure leading to the detachment of both wings during aerobatic maneuvers. 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)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-04Data APIEditorial standards

A military trainer aircraft suffered catastrophic structural failure during an aerobatic maneuver near Sheikh Othman, resulting in the loss of both crew members.

What happened

The incident involved a local training flight that departed from Aden-Khormaksar. During the mission, the crew was engaged in aerobatic maneuvers when the aircraft experienced a sudden structural failure. This event caused both wings to detach from the fuselage while the airplane was still in the air. Following the loss of lift and control, the machine entered an uncontrolled dive and impacted the terrain near the district of Sheikh Othman. The crash resulted in the deaths of both crew members.

Findings

Official investigations determined that the accident occurred because both wings detached during flight. This separation was triggered by a structural failure that took place while the aircraft was completing aerobatics.

Probable cause

Structural failure leading to the detachment of both wings during aerobatic maneuvers.