Deutsche Luft Hansa — Flight D-903

A Deutsche Luft Hansa Junkers G 24 crashed into trees at Marden Park near Godstone during thick fog, resulting in the deaths of seven occupants. The aircraft, named Oberschlesien, was operating a scheduled international flight from Croydon to Amsterdam when it encountered poor weather conditions shortly after takeoff. Investigators determined the pilot was likely attempting to return to Croydon when the aircraft descended into terrain while flying in a northerly direction. One passenger, Glen Kidston, survived the impact and fire; he managed to raise the alarm and report the accident to Croydon Airport before being treated at Caterham Cottage Hospital. The second pilot, Prince Eugen of Schaumburg-Lippe, died from his injuries the following day.

Aircraft

Junkers G 24bi

Registration

D-903

Phase

Cause

Souls on Board

Fatalities

Origin → Dest

Croydon Airport, London, United Kingdom → Amsterdam, Netherlands

Report

Investigation Summary

The flight departed Croydon at 09:54 for a routine trip to Amsterdam. Shortly into the flight, the crew encountered thick fog and poor visibility. Evidence presented at the subsequent inquest indicated that the aircraft had been maintaining an altitude of approximately 300 metres (1,000 ft) before descending to just 30 metres (100 ft) above ground level. While maneuvering in the fog, the aircraft struck trees at Marden Park and burst into flames. Glen Kidston, a notable British aviator and passenger, managed to escape the burning wreckage by rolling in the grass to extinguish his flaming clothes. He then ran to raise the alarm, eventually reporting the crash to Croydon Airport. The second pilot, Prince Eugen of Schaumburg-Lippe, was thrown clear of the aircraft but sustained fatal injuries. The local fire brigade from Caterham and personnel from RAF Kenley assisted in the recovery and emergency response.

Final Conclusions

The inquest held at Caterham concluded on 22 November 1929. Based on witness testimony and the flight path evidence, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death for all victims. The crash was attributed to the aircraft flying at a dangerously low altitude in thick fog, leading to a collision with trees while the pilot was presumably attempting to navigate back to the departure airfield.

Video Analysis

No video analysis linked for this case file yet.

Systems & Failure Modes

Junkers G 24

A three-engine, all-metal low-wing monoplane transport aircraft developed in Germany during the 1920s.

Interesting Facts

01The aircraft was named Oberschlesien and carried the manufacturer serial number 911.
02Glen Kidston, the sole survivor, was a well-known British record-breaking aviator.
03The crash site was located at Marden Park, Godstone, approximately 51°14′54″N 0°04′07″W.
04The aircraft was flying in a northerly direction at the time of the impact.
05The victims included four German crew members, two English passengers, and one Indian passenger.