6th November 1946
KLM Airline Accident at Shere
ACCIDENT REPORT:
CIVIL AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT (CAA)
Dakota PH-TBO at Shere, Surrey
© photo source and more information
1946 - 70 years ago this year, the Dutch airline, KLM, crashed towards the end of its scheduled flight from Amsterdam to Croydon.
This K.L.M. Royal Dutch Airliner, a Douglas Dakota C.47A PH-TBO had five crew and fifteen passengers. Out of a total of the twenty on board, there were six injuries but fortuntely no fatalities.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation produced an eight page report (as shown below, report no. C.468) on the circumstances of this air accident.
Press Release Photo: VIEW HERE
Reverse text on photo - available to purchase
Original Press Photo
This original press photo of "KLM Airline Dakota crash in Nov 1946.
Geoffrey White, the photographer has hand written on the top left hand side of this photo: "The wreckage of a KLM Dakota which crashed landed in the woods near Shere, Surrey. Six people were injured. Photographed inspite of police guard - 6th November 1946"
Geoffrey White Award winning press worked from the 1940s thru to the 1980s. Working for the Daily Graphic, Daily Sketch and the Daily Mail. A highly respected photographer who was given numerous passes to attend and photograph major events throughout his career. Events included major sporting events, Royal occasions, political news, military coverage and much more.
Accident Investigation Branch
Click on any of the images below to view a larger image
Cover
page 2
page 3
page 4
page 5
page 6
page 7
Rear Cover
You can cliick HERE to read the PDF report document.
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Crash Site Photo's
Although the plane was completely destroyed, there were no casualties but six occupants were injured.
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The above photo was taken by Award winning press photographer Geoffrey White. He worked from the 1940s through to the 1980s for various publications such as The Daily Graphic, Daily Sketch and The Daily Mail. A highly respected photographer who was given passes to attend major events.
This original 10" x 14" original press photo of the KLM Airline - Dakota crash at Shere (Nov 1946). You can see that Geoff White has hand written on the top left hand side of this photo:
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Dakota
Douglas Dakota C-47A
Similar Dokota: PH-AJH
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SADLY - 8 days later, another KLM Dakota plane is lost...
...the 1946 KLM Douglas DC-3 Amsterdam accident was the crash of a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight from London to Amsterdam on 14 November 1946. The reverse route of the same airlane and plane as the accident in Shere. The accident occurred as the Douglas DC-3 (PH-TBW) was attempting to land at Amsterdam's airport in poor weather. All 26 passengers and crew on board were killed in the accident.
Accident
The DC-3 (actually an ex-military C-47 Skytrain converted for civil use) was on a scheduled flight from London, England to Amsterdam in the Netherlands.The crew was cleared to land the aircraft at Schiphol Airport in poor weather. The first attempt to land failed and the crew had to perform a go-around. The second approach to land also failed. On the third approach to land the aircraft made a sudden turn to the left, apparently trying to line up with the runway. During this turn the Douglas DC-3 struck the ground and crashed. The aircraft caught fire on impact, killing all 21 passengers and five crew on board.
At the time it happened, the 1946 KLM Amsterdam accident was the worst aviation accident in the history of the Netherlands.
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