No fatalities

Bloemfontein Takeoff Accident Involving Six Occupants (1361)

Bloemfontein, South AfricaTakeoff (climb)

On October 22, 1942, a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (registration 1361) operated by South African Air Force - SAAF was involved in an aviation accident near Bloemfontein, South Africa during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Loss of control during takeoff caused by a jammed aileron control mechanism. 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

An aircraft crashed upside down shortly after departing Bloemfontein Airport due to a control issue, resulting in minor injuries for all six people on board.

What happened

The incident occurred during the initial climb phase following departure from Bloemfontein Airport. The aircraft lost stability and subsequently impacted the ground, coming to rest inverted. All six occupants were able to evacuate the wreckage and sustained only minor injuries in the event. Following the accident, the airframe was declared a total loss and was not returned to service.

Findings

Investigation into the sequence of events identified that the pilot experienced a mechanical failure affecting lateral control. Specifically, the aileron control jammed, which prevented normal maneuvering during the critical takeoff phase. This malfunction led directly to the loss of control that resulted in the crash.

Probable cause

Loss of control during takeoff caused by a jammed aileron control mechanism.