No fatalities

Mail Flight Abandoned Due to Rudder Vibrations Near Älmhult (SE-ADW)

Virestad, SwedenFlight

On July 6, 1934, a Northrop Delta (registration SE-ADW) operated by Aktiebolaget Aerotransport - ABA was involved in an aviation accident near Virestad, Sweden in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Severe vibrations affecting the rudder forced the crew to abandon the aircraft, leading to an uncontrolled descent and crash. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 7 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 single-engine mail aircraft named 'Småland' crashed in an open field near Älmhult after the crew bailed out due to severe rudder vibrations. Both occupants survived the incident, and the airframe was destroyed.

What happened

The flight originated at Stockholm-Barkarby Airport as a mail delivery service bound for Hanover, with an intermediate stop scheduled in Malmö. During the initial leg toward Malmö, the crew encountered serious vibrations affecting the rudder. Due to the severity of the issue, the pilots decided to abandon the aircraft and bail out. The single-engine plane, named 'Småland', subsequently entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted the ground in an open field situated 15 km northeast of Älmhults. Both crew members escaped without injury, while the airframe was completely destroyed.

Findings

The aircraft was in a brand-new condition at the time of the accident, having been delivered only the previous June. It had accumulated just 29 flying hours prior to the crash.

Probable cause

Severe vibrations affecting the rudder forced the crew to abandon the aircraft, leading to an uncontrolled descent and crash.