No fatalities

Aircraft Crash Following Takeoff Engine Failure (R9553)

Rednal AFB, United KingdomTakeoff (climb)

On April 27, 1943, a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (registration R9553) operated by Royal Air Force - RAF was involved in an aviation accident near Rednal AFB, United Kingdom during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure during takeoff. 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 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft experienced an engine failure during the initial climb and crashed, coming to rest inverted. The incident resulted in no fatalities.

What happened

The flight encountered a critical mechanical issue immediately after leaving the ground. During the takeoff phase, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. Unable to maintain lift or control under these conditions, the machine descended rapidly and impacted the terrain. Upon impact, the airframe rotated and came to rest upside down. Despite the severity of the crash and the inverted position of the wreckage, there were no fatalities reported among those on board.

Findings

The official investigation concluded that the primary factor leading to the accident was the loss of power during the critical takeoff sequence. The engine failure prevented the aircraft from gaining sufficient altitude or speed to recover safely, resulting in the subsequent ground impact.

Probable cause

Engine failure during takeoff