Narrative:
The Sabena flight, originating at Brussels, Belgium had departed Lisbon following an intermediate stop on a flight to Léopoldville (now Kinshasa), Belgian Congo. While en route, vibration in the no. 1 engine forced the crew to shut it down. Casablanca ACC was advised that the flight wanted to divert there.
At 04:19 hours a runway 21 approach was attempted, but the aircraft did not touch down. Some 600 m past the runway threshold at a height of 5 m and with landing gear down and full flaps, full power was applied. The DC-7 then climbed in a sharp left turn. Reaching a height of 25 m, the plane stalled, crashed into buildings and caught fire.
The correct procedure for going around would have been to apply full throttle only gradually attaining V2 speed; retracting the landing gear; and, at 115 kt, retracting the flaps from 50 to 20°.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "An error of judgement in re-application of power when the aircraft was neither in the appropriate configuration nor at a sufficient speed to carry out the attempted safety manoeuvre."
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Sunday 18 May 1958 |
| Time: | 04:25 |
| Type: |  Douglas DC-7C |
| Operator: | Sabena |
| Registration: | OO-SFA |
| MSN: | 45157/737 |
| First flight: | 1956 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 9 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 52 / Occupants: 56 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 61 / Occupants: 65 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Aircraft fate: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | near Casablanca-Cazes Airport (CAS) ( Morocco)
|
| Phase: | Approach (APR) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Lisboa-Portela de Sacavém Airport (LIS/LPPT), Portugal |
| Léopoldville-N'Djili Airport (FIH/FZAA), Congo (Democratic Republic) |
The Sabena flight, originating at Brussels, Belgium had departed Lisbon following an intermediate stop on a flight to Léopoldville (now Kinshasa), Belgian Congo. While en route, vibration in the no. 1 engine forced the crew to shut it down. Casablanca ACC was advised that the flight wanted to divert there.
At 04:19 hours a runway 21 approach was attempted, but the aircraft did not touch down. Some 600 m past the runway threshold at a height of 5 m and with landing gear down and full flaps, full power was applied. The DC-7 then climbed in a sharp left turn. Reaching a height of 25 m, the plane stalled, crashed into buildings and caught fire.
The correct procedure for going around would have been to apply full throttle only gradually attaining V2 speed; retracting the landing gear; and, at 115 kt, retracting the flaps from 50 to 20°.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "An error of judgement in re-application of power when the aircraft was neither in the appropriate configuration nor at a sufficient speed to carry out the attempted safety manoeuvre."
Classification:
Loss of control
Sources:
» ICAO Accident Digest Circular 62-AN/57 (26-28)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 Lisboa-Portela de Sacavém Airport to Léopoldville-N'Djili Airport as the crow flies is 5388 km (3367 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Lisboa-Portela de Sacavém Airport to Léopoldville-N'Djili Airport as the crow flies is 5388 km (3367 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
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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Douglas DC-7
- 339 built
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Morocco- The worst accident (at the time)
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