Accident description
languages:
| Status: | Final |
| Date: | 20 NOV 1974 |
| Time: | 07:54 |
| Type: | Boeing 747-130 |
| Operator: | Lufthansa |
| Registration: | D-ABYB |
| C/n / msn: | 19747/29 |
| First flight: | 1970-03-30 (4 years 8 months) |
| Total airframe hrs: | 16781 |
| Engines: | 4 Pratt & Whitney JT9D-7 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 17 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 55 / Occupants: 140 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 59 / Occupants: 157 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off |
| Airplane fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) (Kenya)
 |
| Phase: | Takeoff (TOF) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO/HKNA), Kenya |
| Johannesburg International Airport (JNB/FAJS), South Africa | |
| Flightnumber: | 540 |
Boeing 747 D-ABYB was taking off for the last leg of the Frankfurt (FRA) - Nairobi (NBO) - Johannesburg (JNB) flight when the crew felt vibration or buffeting following lift off. The captain, suspecting wheel imbalance, raised the gear. A lack of acceleration forced the crew to lower the nose in order to maintain airspeed. The Boeing continued to descend however and contacted the ground 1120m past the end of runway 24 and struck an elevated road 114m further on. The aircraft broke up and caught fire before coming to rest 454m past the initial point of impact.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accident was caused by the crew initiating a take-off with the leading edge flaps retracted because the pneumatic system which operates them had not been switched on. This resulted in the aircraft becoming airborne in a partially stalled condition which the pilots did not identify in the short time available to them for recovery. Major contributory factors were the lack of warning of a critical condition of leading edge flap position and the failure of the crew to complete satisfactorily their checklist items." Events:
Sources:
» Flight International 28.08.1976 (481)
» ICAO Circular 132-AN/93 (181-194)
Statistics
3rd loss of a Boeing 747
The worst accident involving a Boeing 747 (at the time)
15th worst accident involving a Boeing 747 (currently)
The worst accident in Kenya (at the time)
The worst accident in Kenya (currently) » figures explained
The worst accident involving a Boeing 747 (at the time)
15th worst accident involving a Boeing 747 (currently)
The worst accident in Kenya (at the time)
The worst accident in Kenya (currently) » figures explained
Photos
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 Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO/HKNA) to Johannesburg International Airport (JNB/FAJS) as the crow flies is 2890 km (1806 miles).
Distance from Nairobi-Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO/HKNA) to Johannesburg International Airport (JNB/FAJS) as the crow flies is 2890 km (1806 miles).
