No fatalities

Aircraft Crash During Takeoff at Hamilton-Kindley Field (42-107452)

Hamilton, BermudaTakeoff (climb)

On April 21, 1945, a Douglas C-54 Skymaster (registration 42-107452) operated by American Export Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Hamilton, Bermuda during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Engine failure. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft crashed shortly after departing Hamilton-Kindley Field Airport due to an engine failure. The incident resulted in no injuries, but the airframe was destroyed.

What happened

The accident occurred during the initial climb phase following departure from Hamilton-Kindley Field Airport. The flight experienced a mechanical issue involving the powerplant shortly after liftoff. This loss of thrust forced the aircraft to descend and impact the ground in the vicinity of the airport. Although the crash resulted in the airframe being damaged beyond repair, there were no fatalities or injuries reported among those on board.

Findings

The official investigation identified the primary factor behind the incident as a failure of the engine. This mechanical malfunction during the critical takeoff phase was determined to be the direct cause of the crash.

Probable cause

Engine failure