64 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: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), 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.”