Narrative:
Flight 120 took off from Jan Smuts Airport at 11:15 for a flight to Salisbury. The Vickers Viking undershot the Salisbury runway 27 on final approach, causing severe damage to the right hand undercarriage and (no. 2) engine. The aircraft finally came to rest 300-400yds further on.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accident was neither caused by mechanical defect of the aircraft nor by the conduct of the pilot. It was caused by a combination of circumstances which can only be described as unusual and unexpected. Had the sudden downpour of rain not taken place at the critical moment, it is almost certain that no accident would have occurred."
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 17 March 1955 |
| Time: | 14:27 |
| Type: |  Vickers 616 Viking 1B |
| Operator: | Central African Airways |
| Registration: | VP-YEX |
| MSN: | 159 |
| First flight: | 1946-11-27 (8 years 4 months) |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 23 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 28 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Salisbury-Belvedere ( Zimbabwe)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Johannesburg International Airport (JNB/FAJS), South Africa |
| Salisbury Airport (HRE/FVHA), Zimbabwe | |
| Flightnumber: | 120 |
Flight 120 took off from Jan Smuts Airport at 11:15 for a flight to Salisbury. The Vickers Viking undershot the Salisbury runway 27 on final approach, causing severe damage to the right hand undercarriage and (no. 2) engine. The aircraft finally came to rest 300-400yds further on.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The accident was neither caused by mechanical defect of the aircraft nor by the conduct of the pilot. It was caused by a combination of circumstances which can only be described as unusual and unexpected. Had the sudden downpour of rain not taken place at the critical moment, it is almost certain that no accident would have occurred."
Classification:
Undershoot/overshoot
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest Circular 50-AN/45 (79-85)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 Johannesburg International Airport to Salisbury Airport as the crow flies is 955 km (597 miles).
Distance from Johannesburg International Airport to Salisbury Airport as the crow flies is 955 km (597 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.
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