No fatalities

Twin-Engine Aircraft Crash During Final Approach in Tanga (K8)

Tanga, TanzaniaLanding (descent or approach)

On May 16, 1943, a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide (registration K8) operated by Kenya Auxiliary Air Unit was involved in an aviation accident near Tanga, Tanzania during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 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

A twin-engine aircraft operated by Eastleigh Communications Flight struck an earth mound during final approach to Tanga, resulting in total loss of the airframe while the pilot escaped without injury.

What happened

The incident involved a twin engine airplane operating on behalf of the Eastleigh Communications Flight. The crew was conducting a scheduled flight from Nairobi-Eastleigh to Tanga. During the final approach phase into the destination airport, the aircraft impacted an earth mound. This collision caused the plane to crash and resulted in damage that rendered the airframe beyond repair.

Despite the severity of the impact and the total loss of the aircraft, the pilot managed to escape the wreckage unhurt. No other injuries or fatalities were reported in connection with this event.