62 Years ago today: On 18 May 1958 a Sabena Douglas DC-7C crashed near Casablanca, killing 61 out of 65 occupants.
| Date: | Sunday 18 May 1958 |
| Time: | 04:25 |
| Type: | Douglas DC-7C |
| Operator: | Sabena |
| Registration: | OO-SFA |
| C/n / msn: | 45157/737 |
| First flight: | 1956 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 9 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 52 / Occupants: 56 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 61 / Occupants: 65 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | near Casablanca-Cazes Airport (CAS) ( |
| 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), Democratic Republic of the Congo |
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.”
