Accident description
languages:
| Status: | |
| Date: | 22 MAR 1964 |
| Time: | 09:19 UTC |
| Type: | de Havilland DH-106 Comet 4 |
| Operator: | Malaysian Airlines System - MAS |
| Registration: | G-APDH |
| C/n / msn: | 6409 |
| First flight: | 1958 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 8 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 60 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 68 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Singapore-Paya Lebar Airport (QPG) (Singapore)
 |
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL/WMKK), Malaysia |
| Singapore-Paya Lebar International Airport (SIN/WSAP), Singapore | |
| Flightnumber: | 511 |
The flight from Kuala Lumpur was uneventful until the airplane approached Singapore. Visibility was good as the co-pilot started the approach to runway 02. The flare was initiated a little late and the airplane touched down firmly. The Comet bounced and floated a few feet over the runway. During the bounce the starboard wheel bogie and part of of the landing gear leg dropped off. The crew tried to hold the wing off the ground after the aircraft settled back onto the runway. Finally the wing contacted the runway. The engines were shut down and left wheel brakes applied before the aircraft came to rest.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The landing gear leg, which had previously been weakened by fatigue, failed on first impact during the landing." Follow-up / safety actions:
The approved operating life of all Comet 4 undercarriage legs was reduced from 8000 to 4500 landings. The legs were later modified and the approved life was again put at 8000 landings.
Sources:
» ICAO Aircraft Accident Digest No.16, Circular 82-AN/69 (114-123)
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL/WMKK) to Singapore-Paya Lebar International Airport (SIN/WSAP) as the crow flies is 287 km (179 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
Distance from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL/WMKK) to Singapore-Paya Lebar International Airport (SIN/WSAP) as the crow flies is 287 km (179 miles).
