

Détails:
Alitalia flight 618 was a scheduled service from Rome, Italy, to New York, NY, USA, with a refueling stop at Shannon, Ireland.
The flight was being flown under the supervision of a check pilot.
The aircraft, a Douglas DC-7C, arrived at Shannon without incident and after refueling, it was cleared to take off from runway. The weather was clear but dark and partially overcast.
The take-off from runway 05 was normal except that the ground roll was probably slightly prolonged. The landing gear was retracted normally. A turn to the left was begun very shortly after gear retraction when the aircraft had climbed to about 165 ft. Power was reduced from take-off power to alternate climb power (2080 BHP) shortly after the turn had been initiated. The flaps, which had been at either 20° or 10° initially, were not fully retracted prior to power reduction. Following power reduction, the aircraft accelerated instead of climbing and lost height while still turning. The landing lights were on during the flight. The aircraft struck the ground while still in a left turn - the point of impact being 65 ft amsl. The left wing tip made the initial contact. The left propellers (Nos. 1 and 2) and left wing struck the stone wall and grave stones of Clonloghan Church. The tips of No. 3 propeller first struck the wall and then made cuts in the turf. The speed of the aircraft at impact was of the order of 170 - 180 kt.
The aircraft was completely destroyed by impact and subsequent explosion and fire. One steward and seventeen passengers survived the accident.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "No definite evidence leading to a particular reason for this accident was revealed by the investigation. It can only be concluded that the aeroplane lost height in a turn shortly after takeoff and struck the ground."
» L'Unità 27-2-1960
| Statuts: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | vendredi 26 février 1960 |
| Type/Sous-type: |  Douglas DC-7C |
| Compagnie: | Alitalia |
| Immatriculation: | I-DUVO |
| Numéro de série: | 45231/945 |
| Année de Fabrication: | 1958 |
| Moteurs: | 4 Wright R-3350 (988TC18) |
| Equipage: | victimes: 11 / Ã bord: 12 |
| Passagers: | victimes: 23 / Ã bord: 40 |
| Total: | victimes: 34 / Ã bord: 52 |
| Dégats de l'appareil: | Détruit |
| Conséquences: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Lieu de l'accident: | Shannon Airport (SNN) ( Irlande)
|
| Élévation des lieux de l'accident: | 14 m (46 feet) amsl |
| Phase de vol: | En montée initiale (ICL) |
| Nature: | Transport de Passagers Intern. |
| Aéroport de départ: | Shannon Airport (SNN/EINN), Irlande |
| New York-Idlewild International Airport, NY (IDL/KIDL), Etats-Unis d'Amérique | |
| Numéro de vol: | AZ618 |
Alitalia flight 618 was a scheduled service from Rome, Italy, to New York, NY, USA, with a refueling stop at Shannon, Ireland.
The flight was being flown under the supervision of a check pilot.
The aircraft, a Douglas DC-7C, arrived at Shannon without incident and after refueling, it was cleared to take off from runway. The weather was clear but dark and partially overcast.
The take-off from runway 05 was normal except that the ground roll was probably slightly prolonged. The landing gear was retracted normally. A turn to the left was begun very shortly after gear retraction when the aircraft had climbed to about 165 ft. Power was reduced from take-off power to alternate climb power (2080 BHP) shortly after the turn had been initiated. The flaps, which had been at either 20° or 10° initially, were not fully retracted prior to power reduction. Following power reduction, the aircraft accelerated instead of climbing and lost height while still turning. The landing lights were on during the flight. The aircraft struck the ground while still in a left turn - the point of impact being 65 ft amsl. The left wing tip made the initial contact. The left propellers (Nos. 1 and 2) and left wing struck the stone wall and grave stones of Clonloghan Church. The tips of No. 3 propeller first struck the wall and then made cuts in the turf. The speed of the aircraft at impact was of the order of 170 - 180 kt.
The aircraft was completely destroyed by impact and subsequent explosion and fire. One steward and seventeen passengers survived the accident.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "No definite evidence leading to a particular reason for this accident was revealed by the investigation. It can only be concluded that the aeroplane lost height in a turn shortly after takeoff and struck the ground."
Sources:
» ICAO Circular 64-AN/58 (133-134)» L'Unità 27-2-1960
Photos
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Plan
Ce plan montre l'aéroport de départ ainsi que la supposée destination du vol. La ligne fixe reliant les deux aéroports n'est pas le plan de vol exact.
La distance entre Shannon Airport et New York-Idlewild International Airport, NY est de 4910 km (3069 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
La distance entre Shannon Airport et New York-Idlewild International Airport, NY est de 4910 km (3069 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Les informations ci-dessus ne représentent pas l'opinion de la 'Flight Safety Foundation' ou de 'Aviation Safety Network' sur les causes de l'accident. Ces informations prélimimaires sont basées sur les faits tel qu'ils sont connus à ce jour.
languages: 
Irlande
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Douglas DC-7
- 339 built
- 11ème loss
- 8ème accident fatal
- le accident 6ème le plus grave (à ce moment là )
- le accident 10ème le plus grave (en ce moment)
Irlande- le accident The le plus grave (à ce moment là )
- le accident 3ème le plus grave (en ce moment)
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