No fatalities

Four-Engine Aircraft Crash Shortly After Takeoff (G-AFZR)

Prestwick, United KingdomTakeoff (climb)

On May 21, 1940, a Fokker F36 (registration G-AFZR) operated by Scottish Airways was involved in an aviation accident near Prestwick, United Kingdom during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft stalled shortly after takeoff, leading to a crash and subsequent fire that destroyed the airframe. 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

A four-engine aircraft stalled shortly after takeoff and crashed near the runway, resulting in injuries to all four crew members and total loss of the airframe due to post-crash fire.

What happened

The incident occurred during the initial climb phase, shortly after the aircraft had departed the runway. The four-engine machine experienced a stall while gaining altitude. Unable to recover from this aerodynamic condition, the aircraft descended and impacted the ground in the immediate vicinity of the departure runway.

Upon impact, the airframe broke apart and immediately caught fire. The resulting post-crash blaze was intense enough to completely destroy the structure of the plane. All four crew members on board sustained injuries during the accident. No fatalities were reported in this event.

Probable cause

The aircraft stalled shortly after takeoff, leading to a crash and subsequent fire that destroyed the airframe.