Vickers Viscount

Operator:

Registration:

N243V

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Amarillo – Lubbock – Midland – San Angelo – Austin

MSN:

354

YOM:

1958

Flight number:

CO210

Location:

Amarillo

Texas

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

16466

Captain / Total hours on type:

1338.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

4470

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1798

Aircraft flight hours:

11164

Aircraft flight cycles:

11976

Circumstances:

A Continental Air Lines Vickers-Armstrongs Viscount Model 812, N243V, was landed wheels-up, almost immediately following takeoff from the Amarillo Municipal Airport, Amarillo, Texas, on July 8, 1962, at approximately 0706LT. There were no serious injuries to any of the 13 passengers or 3 crew members. The aircraft was destroyed by fire. After normal lift-off and landing gear retraction, the captain was momentarily distracted by rainwater from the window channel falling on his left shirt sleeve and he inadvertently allowed the aircraft to settle until Nos. 2 and 3 propellers struck the runway. No. 4 engine and propeller were damaged by pieces of metal thrown from the No. 3 propeller. Increasingly severe vibration, a rapidly developing right wing heaviness, and sudden and excessive rise of exhaust gas temperatures of Nos. 2 and 3 engines dictated an immediate emergency landing. This was effected, wheels up, in a harvested wheat field approximately 6,930 feet beyond the end of runway 21 and in a direction 21 degrees to the right of its extended centerline.

Probable cause:

The Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the captain's diversion of his attention during takeoff which allowed the aircraft to settle to the runway striking the Nos. 2 and 3 propellers.

Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 739 Viscount in Wadi Halfa

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1962

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

SU-AID

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Jerusalem – Cairo

MSN:

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While descending to Cairo-Intl Airport, the crew was informed about poor weather conditions at destination and decided to divert to Wadi Halfa, some 900 km south of Cairo. On final approach to Wadi Halfa Airport, all four engines failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed in a desert area located five km short of runway threshold. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all 16 occupants were slightly injured.

Probable cause:

Failure of all four engines due to fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Vickers 720 Viscount off Sydney: 15 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1961 at 1925 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VH-TVC

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Sydney – Canberra

MSN:

YOM:

1954

Flight number:

AN325

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

16016

Captain / Total hours on type:

2748.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

4145

Copilot / Total hours on type:

1731

Aircraft flight hours:

16946

Aircraft flight cycles:

12010

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged on a scheduled transport service from Sydney to Canberra. It carried a crew of four and eleven passengers. According to the approved flight plan, the pilot proposed to proceed to Canberra via the 222 track to Marulan, the first reporting point. At the time of departure this was changed, because of inbound traffic, to the 244 diversion, which avoids Botany Bay. At 1915:43 the Approach Controller instructed the flight to "continue runway heading to 3 000 ft before turning left and to pass over the field at 5 000 ft or above. The flight was then cleared for take-off from runway 07. At 1921:50 the Approach Controller asked the aircraft to report its altitude. It was at 6 000 ft. Shortly thereafter (at 1922:05) the controller communicated as follows:" . . . now if you haven't passed over the field you can proceed via the 217 from Padstow. The 222 is available, but I suggest the 217 due to the storm to the south of the field, report setting course from Padstow 217." The flight acknowledged at 1922:20 hours. None of the messages that followed from the Approach Controller were answered. Between 1925 and 1926 hours the aircraft plunged into Botany Bay, killing all aboard.

Probable cause:

During a descent in excess of 260 kt, the pilot's actions, when trying to regain control of the aircraft, caused the aircraft to exceed its stress limits. This factor together with speed and turbulence caused the starboard outer wing to fail.

Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 789D Viscount in Boston

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1961 at 1710 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N6592C

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Washington DC – New York – Boston

MSN:

234

YOM:

1957

Flight number:

NE120

Location:

Boston

Massachusetts

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

17000

Captain / Total hours on type:

2000.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

3000

Copilot / Total hours on type:

300

Aircraft flight hours:

8328

Circumstances:

On November 15, 1961, at approximately 1710LT, 47 minutes after sunset, a ground collision occurred at Logan International Airport, Boston, Massachusetts, between a National Airlines DC-6B, N8228H, attempting a takeoff on runway 09 and a Northeast Airlines Viscount N6592C, during its landing roll on runway 04R. National Airlines Flight 429 originated at Boston. Its destination was Norfolk, Virginia, with five intermediate stops. Northeast Airlines Flight 120 originated at Washington, D. C. Its destination was Boston, Massachusetts, with an intermediate stop at LaGuardia Airport, New York. There were no serious injuries to either the crew or passengers of the DC-6; however, four passengers of the Viscount received minor cuts and abrasions while deplaning. There was major damage to both aircraft. As a result of this accident the Board recommended to the Federal Aviation Agency that consideration be given to requiring that all restrictive clearances or instructions issued by air traffic control be acknowledged by pilot repetition.

Probable cause:

The Board finds that this ground collision accident occurred as the result of commencement of takeoff by National 429 without clearance. Contributing factors were the failure of tower personnel to provide adequate surveillance of the active runways and to issue an appropriate warning message to the pilot of National 429 alerting him to the impending traffic confliction.

Crash of a Vickers 768D Viscount in Colombo

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1961 at 1421 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

VT-DIH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Western Province (மேல் மாகாணம்)

Schedule:

Madras – Colombo

MSN:

195

YOM:

1957

Location:

Colombo-Ratmalana

Country:

Sri Lanka

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

11942

Captain / Total hours on type:

632.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

11184

Copilot / Total hours on type:

683

Circumstances:

During the landing at Ratmalana Airport, Ceylon, following a scheduled flight from Madras, India, the aircraft touched down about one third down the runway and swerved off to the left with its wheels in the 'up' position. The aircraft was substantially damaged. None of the 6 crew members or 36 passengers aboard was injured. The accident took dace at 0851 hours GMT (1421LT).

Probable cause:

The copilot interfered with the controls, and initiated over shoot action without any instructions from the captain, by opening the throttles and retracting the undercarriage at the critical stage of landing just after touchdown. The action of the copilot, however well meant, was both unauthorized and unwarranted.

Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 736 Viscount in Frankfurt

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1961 at 1848 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-AODH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Berlin – Frankfurt

MSN:

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

12303

Captain / Total hours on type:

2378.00

Circumstances:

The aircraft was on a scheduled service (charter flight) from Berlin to Frankfurt-Main. Aboard were a pilot-in-command, a copilot, 2 stewardesses, 11 passengers and one child. The flight proceeded normally until the final approach at its destination. During a missed ILS approach in poor visibility the aircraft struck the ground alongside runway 25 and was badly damaged while rolling to a stop. Two of the sixteen occupants were injured. The accident occurred at 1848LT.

Probable cause:

The pilot-in-command, during the ILS approach, flew below the critical height and, in a surface visibility which was inadequate, struck the ground alongside the runway. It is probable that a contributing factor was that at the critical moment the assistance given by the copilot to the pilot-in-command was erroneous and misleading.

Final Report:

Crash of a Vickers 744 Viscount in Osaka

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1961

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

G-APKJ

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Tokyo – Osaka

MSN:

YOM:

1955

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

On final approach to Osaka-Itami Airport, at an altitude of 1,000 feet, the pilot-in-command made a last turn to the left to line up with runway 32 and started a steep descent. Passing over the runway threshold, the four engine airplane lost height and landed hard. On impact, the right main gear was sheared off and the airplane slid for several yards before coming to rest. Nine occupants were injured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot-in-command who adopted a too high descent rate during the last segment and an improper flare.

Crash of a Vickers 739B Viscount off Elba Island: 23 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1960 at 1215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

SU-AKW

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Geneva – Rome – Athens – Cairo

MSN:

427

YOM:

Flight number:

MS738

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

1230

Aircraft flight cycles:

535

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft departed Geneva-Cointrin Airport at 1105LT bound for Rome-Fiumicino Airport. While cruising on airway A3 at an altitude of 21,000 feet, the crew requested permission to ATC to modify his route due to the presence of a low pressure area. Permission was granted and the crew modified his route when contact was lost. The airplane entered a dive and crashed into the Ligurian Sea, about 27 km north of Elbe Island. SAR operations were conducted but no trace of the airplane nor the 23 occupants was found. On October 3, tourists on their sailing ship found a wheel floating on water and the Italian Authorities confirmed it was part of the Egyptian airplane. Unfortunately, only few pieces were recovered.

Probable cause:

Due to lack of evidences, the exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it is believed that the loss of control was the result of severe turbulences encountered in a thunderstorm area which caused the failure of certain components of the aircraft and a eventual structural failure.

Crash of a Vickers 837 Viscount in Moscow: 31 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1960 at 2140 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

OE-LAF

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Vienna – Warsaw – Moscow

MSN:

437

YOM:

1960

Flight number:

OS901

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Captain / Total flying hours:

2395

Captain / Total hours on type:

1752.00

Copilot / Total flying hours:

2088

Copilot / Total hours on type:

458

Aircraft flight hours:

1272

Aircraft flight cycles:

872

Circumstances:

The approach to Moscow-Sheremetyevo Airport was completed by night and in poor weather conditions. After its four turn on approach, the crew continued the descent below the glide when the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located 11 km short of runway 07. The aircraft was destroyed, five crew members and 26 passengers were killed while six other occupants were seriously injured. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited due to the night, foggy conditions and rain falls.

Probable cause:

The investigations revealed that there were no technical deficiencies in the aircraft itself or a meteorological phenomenon involved in the accident. The Austrian observers participating in the investigation of the accident were of the opinion that the accident was related to altitude measurement, inasmuch as it was apparent from radio communications as well as from the examination of the wreckage that that the crew believed that they were flying at the normal approach altitude. The erroneous altitude measurement may be attributed to:
- A technical deficiency of either of the two altimeters,
- The divergent settings of the altimeters or,
- Omission of altimeter reading or erroneous reading of altimeters.
The internal mechanism of both altimeters was so heavily damaged that it could no longer be ascertained whether, at the time of the accident, the altimeters were functioning accurately. Both altimeters were set to the correct atmospheric pressure but their settings differed, namely the left altimeter was set at QFE 990 millibars and the right altimeter at 1013 millibars, which in view of the prevailing atmospheric pressure conditions, could have corresponded both to QNH and to the standard pressure setting. Such divergent settings are at variance with the usual procedure of Austrian Airlines. The reasons prompting the flight captain to depart from the usual practice could not be ascertained. It was not possible to reach a categorical conclusion as to which of the three causes were responsible for an approach below the minimum flying altitude.

Crash of a Vickers 745D Viscount in Holdcroft: 50 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1960 at 2219 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N7462

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type: