Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) accident at Kisumu, Kenya, 11 Jul 1945 (6812)
On July 11, 1945, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration 6812) operated by South African Air Force - SAAF was involved in an aviation accident near Kisumu, Kenya during takeoff. 28 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty but Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority banned all night takeoffs from Kisumu Airport for several weeks following this accident. 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.
Probable cause
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty but Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority banned all night takeoffs from Kisumu Airport for several weeks following this accident.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
Shortly after takeoff from Kisumu Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft crashed on an island located in the Winam Bay, northeast part of the Lake Victoria. All 28 occupants were killed, among them SAAF soldiers that were released after being prisoners of war.
Probable cause (official findings): The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty but Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority banned all night takeoffs from Kisumu Airport for several weeks following this accident.