Narrative:
The Comet 4 operated on BOAC flight 115 from London to Rome, Khartoum, Nairobi, Salisbury and Johannesburg.
During the descent towards Rome, the aircraft prematurely descended and performed the approach procedure. After lowering the gear and beginning his approach, the aircraft hit pine trees on Monte Cimino, 40 miles North of Rome.
Damage was caused to nosewheel, main undercarriage and flaps, but aircraft managed to make a successful landing at Fiumicino afterwards.
The accident was attributed to the following causes:
1. Exercises for familiarization, as recommended by ICAO, with the approach procedure for Fiumicino were not carried out. These exercises were all the more necessary as it was the first time that this crew had flown to the airport.
2. The aircraft did not fly over NR and did not follow a QDR (magnetic heading) between 115° and 122° from NR.
3. The two radio compasses were tuned to the same frequency. As a result, only one "double" erroneous indication was available, whereas it would have been possible to have had useful indications from different sources for a "fix", by using the bearings of pairs of radio beacons.
4. After both radio compasses had been tuned to the NF frequency, and their indications agreed with one another, they were accepted as reliable.
5. For the final navigation phase only the radio compasses were used. More importance shouId have been attached to the contemporaneous indications of the compass and clock after appreciable differences had been noted between information shown in the flight log and data which could have been obtained subsequently by observation and measurement.
6. Inaccuracy in radio communications on the part of the second pilot, (as shown in communication at 2029:30 hours).
7. The Prague transmitter interfered with radio beacon NF.
Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Wednesday 25 January 1961 |
| Type: |  de Havilland DH-106 Comet 4 |
| Operator: | British Overseas Airways Corporation - BOAC |
| Registration: | G-APDM |
| MSN: | 6414 |
| First flight: | 1959 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 5633 |
| Engines: | 4 Rolls-Royce Avon 524 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 8 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 44 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 52 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | 67 km (41.9 mls) N of Roma-Fiumicino Airport (FCO) ( Italy)
|
| Phase: | Landing (LDG) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | London-Heathrow Airport (LHR/EGLL), United Kingdom |
| Roma-Fiumicino Airport (FCO/LIRF), Italy | |
| Flightnumber: | BA115 |
The Comet 4 operated on BOAC flight 115 from London to Rome, Khartoum, Nairobi, Salisbury and Johannesburg.
During the descent towards Rome, the aircraft prematurely descended and performed the approach procedure. After lowering the gear and beginning his approach, the aircraft hit pine trees on Monte Cimino, 40 miles North of Rome.
Damage was caused to nosewheel, main undercarriage and flaps, but aircraft managed to make a successful landing at Fiumicino afterwards.
Probable Cause:
The accident was attributed to the following causes:
1. Exercises for familiarization, as recommended by ICAO, with the approach procedure for Fiumicino were not carried out. These exercises were all the more necessary as it was the first time that this crew had flown to the airport.
2. The aircraft did not fly over NR and did not follow a QDR (magnetic heading) between 115° and 122° from NR.
3. The two radio compasses were tuned to the same frequency. As a result, only one "double" erroneous indication was available, whereas it would have been possible to have had useful indications from different sources for a "fix", by using the bearings of pairs of radio beacons.
4. After both radio compasses had been tuned to the NF frequency, and their indications agreed with one another, they were accepted as reliable.
5. For the final navigation phase only the radio compasses were used. More importance shouId have been attached to the contemporaneous indications of the compass and clock after appreciable differences had been noted between information shown in the flight log and data which could have been obtained subsequently by observation and measurement.
6. Inaccuracy in radio communications on the part of the second pilot, (as shown in communication at 2029:30 hours).
7. The Prague transmitter interfered with radio beacon NF.
Classification:
Aircraft strayed off planned course Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) - Mountain
Sources:
» ICAO Circular 69Photos
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 London-Heathrow Airport to Roma-Fiumicino Airport as the crow flies is 1434 km (896 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from London-Heathrow Airport to Roma-Fiumicino Airport as the crow flies is 1434 km (896 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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