No fatalities

Post-Liftoff Stall Results in Runway Crash with No Fatalities (YR-PAF)

Bucharest, RomaniaTakeoff (climb)

On June 19, 1941, a Douglas DC-3 (registration YR-PAF) operated by Liniile Aeriene Române Exploatate cu Statul - LARES was involved in an aviation accident near Bucharest, Romania during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 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 stalled immediately after takeoff and crashed near the runway. All 18 occupants were rescued, though the airframe was destroyed. The specific cause remains undetermined.

What happened

The incident occurred during the initial climb phase, shortly after the aircraft left the ground. Immediately following liftoff, the airplane entered a stall condition. This loss of aerodynamic lift caused the aircraft to descend rapidly and crash in the immediate vicinity of the runway.

Despite the severity of the impact, which resulted in the total destruction of the airframe, all 18 occupants were successfully rescued from the wreckage. No fatalities or injuries were reported among the passengers or crew.

Findings

Investigations into this event have not yet established a definitive root cause. The specific factors that contributed to the immediate post-takeoff stall remain unknown at this time.