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.
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.
What happened in the 25 Jan 1939 De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth accident near Iringa, Tanzania?
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.
Were there any fatalities in the 25 Jan 1939 De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 25 Jan 1939 involved a De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth, registration VP-KBP, operated by Wilson Airways, at Iringa, Tanzania.
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