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| Date: | Saturday 1 July 1961 |
| Time: | 10:10 |
| Type: | Douglas DC-8-33 |
| Owner/operator: | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines |
| Registration: | PH-DCG |
| MSN: | 45382/106 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 147 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | None |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Over the North Atlantic Ocean -
 Atlantic Ocean
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Passenger - Scheduled |
| Departure airport: | New York-Idlewild Airport, NY |
| Prestwick Airport | |
| Investigating agency: | RvdL |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
During flight KL622 from New York to Amsterdam, the aircraft was cruising on autopilot when it suddenly began climbing very steeply without warning. The pilot reacted quickly, immediately disengaging the autopilot and stabilizing the aircraft. By then, the aircraft had climbed 1,200 feet.
In the rear of the cabin, individuals were thrown against the ceiling, and at least four passengers and one flight attendant sustained minor injuries. The cause was a malfunction in a gyroscope due to a worn-out bearing.
Subsequent investigation also revealed faults in the control system of the elevator, which amplified the shocking effects of the corrective action taken by the pilot at the rear of the aircraft.
Sources:
https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/documenten/rapporten/2023/03/22/bijlage-3-inventaris-van-de-archieven-rvdl-en-bvoi-2-16-107
https://www.hdekker.info/Nieuwe%20map/1961.htm#01.07.1961
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 30-Aug-2024 17:23 | ASN | Added |
| 17-Oct-2024 17:17 | ASN | Updated [Cn, ] |
| 05-Dec-2024 10:08 | Justanormalperson | Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Location, Country, Phase, Nature, ] |
| 05-Dec-2024 10:11 | ASN | Updated [Total occupants, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, ] |
| 29-Dec-2024 12:31 | Cobar | Updated [Date, Time, ] |
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