Date:	Monday 14 March 1960
Time:
Type:	de Havilland DH-106 Comet 4
Owner/operator:	British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC
Registration:	G-APDS
MSN:	6419
Year of manufacture:	1959
Engine model:	Rolls-Royce Avon 524
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 32
Aircraft damage:	Substantial, repaired
Category:	Accident
Location:	Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) -   Spain
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	London-Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL)
Destination airport:	Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD/LEMD)
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
During a final approach to land at night the aircraft struck a ridge at a point 345 feet above runway level and approximately 2 miles from the runway threshold. As a result of the impact the wheels of both main landing gears and the fuel tank attached to the port wing were torn off and the port wing flaps damaged. The approach was discontinued and an emergency landing, with damaged landing gear down, was made on another runway.

The aircraft operated on a scheduled service from London to Santiago de Chile, with intermediate stops at Madrid, Dakar, Recife, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "While approaching the airport the aircraft was flown at an altitude lower than the spot height indicating the position of the Paracuellos Hills."

Survey of accidents to aircraft in the United Kingdom 1960 / CAA

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