No fatalities

Aircraft Crash During Takeoff Results in Destruction and Injuries (VP-KBP)

Iringa, TanzaniaTakeoff (climb)

On January 25, 1939, a De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth (registration VP-KBP) operated by Wilson Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Iringa, Tanzania during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 7 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

An aircraft crashed during the takeoff phase due to an unidentified cause, resulting in the total destruction of the airframe and injuries to all three occupants on board.

What happened

The incident occurred while the aircraft was executing its initial climb following departure from the runway. The specific reasons behind the failure remained undetermined at the time of reporting. As a result of the event, the aircraft was destroyed and could not be recovered in an airworthy condition. All three individuals present on board sustained injuries during the crash sequence.

Findings

Investigations into this accident did not yield a definitive conclusion regarding the mechanical or operational factors that led to the failure. The cause of the crash is officially recorded as unknown, with no specific contributing elements identified in the available records.