ASN Aircraft accident Douglas DC-7C OO-SFA Casablanca-Cazes Airport (CAS)
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Status:Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Date:Sunday 18 May 1958
Time:04:25
Type:Silhouette image of generic DC7 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different
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
Destination airport:Léopoldville-N'Djili Airport (FIH/FZAA), Congo (Democratic Republic)
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:

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)


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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.

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
  • 7th loss
  • 5th fatal accident
  • The worst accident (at the time)
  • 4th worst accident (currently)
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 Morocco
  • The worst accident (at the time)
  • 6th worst accident (currently)
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