Date: 20th November 1974
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Carrier: Lufthansa
Aircraft: B-747-130
Registration: D-ABYB
Flight No: LH 540/19
Passengers and Crew: 157
Fatalities: 59
Phase of flight: Take-off
Reason for crash: Leading edge flaps retracted
Accident Report Summary: Click Here
During the takeoff from Nairobi the crew felt vibration or buffeting
after liftoff and suspected engine trouble. Subsequently the
Commander, suspecting wheel impalance, raised the landing gear.
The co-pilot, who was handling the aircraft, noticed a complete lack
of acceleration and had to lower the nose in an attempt to maintain
airspeed.
![[Diagram]](SL20dia.gif)
The aircraft lost altitude and the rear fuselage made contact with
the ground approximately 1120 metres beyond the departure end of
runway 24. Parts of the aircraft struck an elevated road 114 metres
further on and it started to break up.
The main portion skidded an additional 340 metres during which time
it turned to the left through approximately 180 degrees. The aircraft
was destroyed by impact and subsequent fire.
Survivors Seating location Plan:
![[Photograph]](SL20nov.gif)