The list of incidents with the Vickers Viscount shows an overview of incidents resulting in death or total loss of Vickers Viscount aircraft .
From the first flight in 1948 to the end of operations in 2009, the 445 Vickers Viscounts built suffered 144 total losses, of which 137 were losses in flight operations. In 68 of them, 1,742 people were killed. Examples:
On January 20, 1956, a British European Airways (BEA) Viscount 701 ( aircraft registration G-AMOM ) overturned at Blackbushe Airport . The machine started on a training flight when the training captain accidentally shut down both right engines at the same time. The entire five-man crew survived.
On February 20, 1956, a Viscount 744 of the US American Capital Airlines (N7404) had to be written off as a total loss after a landing accident at Chicago Midway Airport . There were no fatalities among the 42 inmates.
On December 12, 1956, an Air France (F-BGNK) Viscount 708 launched in Paris-Orly crashed on a training flight to Reims from an altitude of 900 to 1500 meters near Dannemois . Loss of control for an unknown reason is suspected as the cause of the accident. All 5 crew members were killed.
On October 23, 1957, a Viscount 802 of British European Airways (BEA) (G-AOJA) missed the runway when approaching Belfast-Nutts Corner Airport . When attempting a go-around, she crashed 300 meters south of the western end of the runway. All seven inmates were killed.
On November 17, 1957, a British European Airways (BEA) (G-AOHP) Viscount 802 was on a cargo flight from London Heathrow to Copenhagen . During the approach, three of the four engines failed due to icing. The aircraft was destroyed in a belly landing 28 kilometers northwest of the airport, but both pilots survived.
On April 6, 1958 (local time), Viscount 745D of the US American Capital Airlines (N7437) crashed during the approach to Tri-City Airport in Michigan . The reason for the loss of control was an icing up of the horizontal stabilizer . All 47 occupants, 3 crew members and 44 passengers were killed.
On April 28, 1958, a Viscount 802 of British European Airways (BEA) (G-AORC) was flown into the area on the approach to Prestwick Airport and burned out. Reasons were a misinterpretation of the instruments by the captain, insufficient cooperation within the cockpit crew and an ergonomically poorly designed altimeter with an ambiguous display. All five inmates survived.
On May 20, 1958 Viscount 745d of the US Capital Airlines collided (N7410) in flight with a Lockheed T-33 of the Air National Guard (53-5966) . In the accident near Brunswick during their approach to Martin State Airport (Baltimore), all eleven occupants of the airliner and a military pilot were killed; the second was able to save himself with the ejection seat.
On August 9, 1958, a Central African Airways (VP-YNE) Viscount 748D from Wadi Halfa (Sudan) flew 9 kilometers southeast of Benghazi Airport (Libya) in hilly terrain. It is possible that the pilots who had started the flight 18 hours earlier in Salisbury (Rhodesia) and had already made other stopovers in Ndola, Entebbe and Khartoum played a role. In the accident, 36 of the 54 occupants were killed.
On November 10, 1958, a Lockheed L-1049D Super Constellation from Seabord & Western Airlines (N6503C) lost control during a training flight at New York-Idlewild Airport , with the machine finally parked with a Viscount 724 from Trans-Canada Airlines (CF-TGL) collided, in which there were only two crew members. The trigger was an incorrectly built reverse thrust device that suddenly activated itself. All five crew members and the two in the Viscount survived. Both planes burned out and were total losses.
On May 12, 1959, a Viscount 745D of the US American Capital Airlines (N7463) went into an uncontrolled dive while flying through a thunderstorm with very severe turbulence and broke in the air near the town of Chase ( Maryland ). All 31 occupants, 4 crew members and 27 passengers lost their lives.
On December 21, 1959, a Viscount 785 ( serial number [S / N] 378) of Alitalia (I-LIZT) crashed while approaching Rome Ciampino airport . The machine, on which two of the four engines were set to idle on a test flight, became uncontrollable during the landing maneuver below the minimum speed for engine failure and crashed. Both people on board (the pilots) were killed.
On December 22, 1959, a Viscount 827 from Viação Aérea São Paulo (VASP) (PP-SRG) collided with a military training aircraft while approaching Rio de Janeiro-Galeão airport and crashed 4 kilometers south of the airport into a residential area. All 32 inmates and 10 people were killed on the ground. The pilot of the military plane of the type Fokker S-11 of the Força Aérea Brasileira had flown around in the approach area of the airport without authorization; he saved himself with the parachute.
1960s
On January 5, 1960, the hydraulic system of a Viscount 701 of British European Airways (BEA) ( aircraft registration G-AMNY ) failed after touching down at the destination airport in Malta, and with it the brakes and the nose wheel control. On the sloping terrain, the machine rolled against the control tower. None of the 51 occupants was harmed, but the aircraft was ready for scrap.
On January 7, 1960, the nose landing gear of a Viscount 802 operated by British European Airways (BEA) (G-AOHU) collapsed after touching down at London Heathrow Airport , as the captain landed on it first due to poor visibility in thick fog. The fire that broke out destroyed the entire aircraft. Nevertheless, all 59 inmates survived.
On January 18, 1960, all four Viscount 745D engines of the US American Capital Airlines (N7462) failed due to icing on a scheduled flight from Washington to Norfolk because the pilots had not switched on the engine's de-icing system. They managed to restart the outer right engine. They increased its output to the maximum in order to keep the machine at height. The plane then went into a spin and hit a wooded area near Charles City, Virginia, USA, with almost no forward movement. All 50 occupants were killed (see also Capital Airlines Flight 20 ) .
On September 29, 1960, a United Arab Airlines ( SU-AKW ) Viscount 739B flew into a severe storm. The pilots lost their bearings on the flight from Geneva to Rome and the plane crashed about 25 kilometers off the coast of Elba in the Mediterranean Sea. All 21 people on board were killed in the crash. Only a few parts of the wreck could be recovered during the recovery.
On November 30, 1961, a Viscount 720 of the Australian Ansett ANA (VH-TVC) broke in the air in strong turbulence and high speed shortly after taking off from Sydney-Kingsford Smith Airport (Australia) 5 kilometers south of it. All 15 people on board died.
On November 23, 1962, a United Airlines Viscount 745D (N7430) collided with a flock of whistling swans at an altitude of 6000 feet . One of them hit the left horizontal stabilizer , which then broke off. The plane crashed uncontrollably to the ground near Ellicott City ( Maryland , USA). All 17 occupants, 4 crew members and 13 passengers were killed.
On December 19, 1962, a Viscount 804 S / N 395 of the Polskie line Lotnicze LOT ( SP-LVB ) crashed just 1.5 km from the runway threshold at Warsaw Airport . All 33 people on board were killed (see also LOT flight 248 ) .
On January 29, 1963, a US Continental Airlines Viscount 812 ( N242V ) crashed while landing at Kansas City Municipal Airport, killing all 8 occupants. The accident is attributed to undetected icing of the horizontal stabilizer , which led to the loss of control (see also Continental Airlines Flight 290 ) .
On February 1, 1963, a Middle East Airlines (MEA) ( OD-ADE ) Viscount 754D collided with a Douglas DC-3 / C-47A-80-DL ( CBK-28 ) operated by the Turkish Air Force over the city of Ankara. The Viscount was approaching Ankara-Esenboğa Airport. The planes crashed into various parts of the city, including a very busy market square. In addition to all 17 people on board the two aircraft (14 in the Viscount, 3 in the DC-63), 87 people died on the ground.
On April 14, 1963 a Viscount 759D of the Flugfélag Islands (TF-ISU) had an accident , which at that time was already using the international name Icelandair . The plane crashed on approach for landing six kilometers from Oslo-Fornebu Airport. The machine was on the flight from Copenhagen via Oslo and Bergen in Norway to Reykjavík . All twelve occupants were killed, eight of them passengers and four crew members (see also Nesøya accident ) .
On August 12, 1963, an Air Inter (F-BGNV) Viscount 708 coming from Lille collided with trees while approaching Lyon-Bron airport during a thunderstorm. The plane struck a farmhouse 15 miles north of the destination airport and eventually crashed into a field. Of the 16 occupants, 15 were killed, as well as one person on the ground, only one passenger survived.
On September 11, 1963, an Indian Airlines (VT-DIO) Viscount 768D crashed on the flight from Nagpur to New Delhi about 50 kilometers south of Agra for unknown reasons. All 18 occupants, 5 crew members and 13 passengers were killed.
On April 21, 1964, part of the taxiway collapsed under a Viscount 754D of Middle East Airlines (OD-ACX) while taxiing at the Egyptian airport El Arisch . The damage to the hull, propellers and engines was irreparable. People were not harmed.
On July 9, 1964, a United Air Lines Viscount 745D (N7405) crashed during a cabin fire near Parottsville (Tennessee, USA). All 39 people on board died. One of the victims, a passenger, jumped off the plane three kilometers from the crash site (see also United Air Lines flight 823 ) .
On September 4, 1964, a Viscount 701C of the Brazilian VASP (PP-SRR) was flown 15 kilometers southwest of Nova Friburgo ( Brazil ) into the mountain Pico da Caledônia. The machine was en route from Vitória to Rio de Janeiro when it collided at an altitude of only 1,950 meters (6400 feet) with the mountain, which is about 90 kilometers from its destination. It was 35 kilometers to the right of the mandatory route. In this CFIT ( Controlled flight into terrain ) all 39 occupants were killed, 5 crew members and 34 passengers.
On September 22, 1966, a Viscount 832 of the Australian company Ansett Australia (VH-RMI) crashed near Winton (Australia) on the flight to Longreach after an engine caught fire and a wing broke off. All 24 people on board, 4 crew members and 20 passengers, died in this accident.
On June 22, 1967, an Aer Lingus (EI-AOF) Viscount 800 crashed during a pilot training course 15 km northwest of Dublin Airport . The machine crashed from a small height , presumably due to a stall . All three pilots on board were killed.
On March 24, 1968, a Viscount 800 of Aer Lingus (EI-AOM) crashed into the sea 3.1 km northeast of the Irish island of Tuskar Rock on its flight from Cork to London . The cause of the crash could never be clarified. All 61 occupants, 57 passengers and 4 crew members were killed (see also Aer Lingus flight 712 ) .
On August 9, 1968, the Viscount 739A S / N 394 of the British Eagle International Airlines (G-ATFN) broke in the air due to structural overload after the on -board electrical system failed and crashed onto the A9 motorway near Langenbruck, Pfaffenhofen district . All 48 people on board were killed (see also British Eagle Flight 802 ) .
On September 15, 1968, a Viscount 827 of the Brazilian VASP (PP-SRE) had an accident on a training flight 7.5 kilometers from São Paulo-Congonhas Airport ( Brazil ). Take-offs and landings with touch-and-go as well as the simulated failure of one and two engines were practiced. The two pilots, the only occupants, were killed, as was a person on the ground.
On December 31, 1968, a Viscount 720 of the Australian MacRobertson Miller Airlines (VH-RMQ) leased by Ansett ANA broke in the air. After the right wing was broken off, the aircraft crashed into the jungle 52 kilometers south of Port Hedland Airport ( Australia ) due to a faulty repair . All 26 occupants, 22 passengers and 4 crew members were killed. Trans Australia originally bought the machine.
On February 2, 1969, the Türk Hava Yollari - THY (TC-SET) was approached too low with a Viscount 794D on its approach to Ankara-Esenboğa airport ; it collided with a power pole, fell and caught fire. All 26 occupants survived the accident.
On April 7, 1969, shortly after an Air Canada (CF-THK) Vickers Viscount 757 took off from Sept-Îles Airport, a fire broke out in the left main landing gear bay. The pilots managed to fly the plane back to the airport, but engine no. 1 could not be switched off due to the fire and the brakes on the left main landing gear failed. The evacuation was carried out while the machine was rolling clockwise in a circle. During the evacuation, a passenger fell, was run over by the machine and was killed. The other 20 occupants of the machine survived the incident (see also Air Canada's Vickers Viscount accident near Sept-Îles ) .
On June 27, 1969, the hydraulic system for brakes and nose wheel steering failed on a Viscount 754D of the US American Aloha Airlines (N7410) while taxiing at Honolulu Airport . Thereupon it collided with a parked Douglas DC-9-31 (N906H) of the Hawaiian Airlines . The Viscount was irreparably damaged, the DC-9 could be repaired. The main cause were maintenance errors.
On October 26, 1969, a Viscount 833 of the Israeli Arkia (4X-AVC) had an accident while landing during a night training flight at Tel Aviv-Lod airport . All three pilots on board survived the total write-off.
1970s
On June 3, 1970, a Viscount 745D of the Ecuadorian SAETA ( aircraft registration HC-ART ) rolled over the end of the runway while landing at Cuenca airport (Ecuador) and was irreparably damaged. People were not harmed.
On January 25, 1971, a Viscount 749 of the Linea Aeropostal Venezolana (LAV) (YV-C-AMV) was flown into trees seven minutes after take-off from Merida Airport (Venezuela) at Paramo Los Conejos and crash-landed in one wooded mountain slope. 13 of the 47 occupants, 1 crew member and 12 passengers, were killed.
On November 1, 1971, a Viscount 749 of the Linea Aeropostal Venezolana (LAV) (YV-C-AMZ) crashed shortly after taking off from Maracaibo Airport ( Venezuela ), possibly due to problems with the control. All 4 crew members, the only occupants, were killed.
On November 10, 1971, a Viscount 828 of the Merpati Nusantara Airlines (PK-MVS) crashed into the sea while approaching Padang-Tabing Airport ( Sumatra Barat Province ) south of the city. The cause could not be clarified. All 69 people on board (7 crew members and 62 passengers) were killed, which is the second highest number of fatalities in accidents on the Viscount.
On December 28, 1971, the failure of engine number 4 (far right) was simulated in a Viscount 708 of Air Inter (F-BOEA) when starting a training flight from Clermont-Ferrand airport . There was a loss of control, the machine went off the runway and was irreparably damaged. The two pilots (only occupants) survived the accident.
On October 27, 1972, an Air Inter (F-BMCH) Viscount 724 collided on the flight from Lyon-Bron to Clermont-Ferrand with the Pic du Picon mountain, about 44 kilometers east of the destination airport. Probably due to incorrect readings in the radio compass (ADF) as a result of atmospheric electrical discharges, the pilots lost their orientation and had to fly into the mountain. Of the 68 occupants, 60 were killed, only 8 passengers survived.
On January 19, 1973, a British European Airways (BEA) (G-AOHI) Viscount 802 was flown on a test flight from Glasgow Airport to the almost 1200 meter high summit of Ben More , around 60 kilometers north of Glasgow. All four occupants, two crew members and two passengers, were killed.
On April 17, 1973 Viscount 735 who made Iraqi Airways (YI ACL) a belly landing on the airport Mosul after all the fuel had been consumed. All 33 occupants survived the accident; the machine has been irreparably damaged.
On May 15, 1973, a Viscount 827 of the Brazilian VASP (PP-SRD) landed at Salvador Airport ( Brazil ) immediately after touching down in heavy rain from the runway. The landing gear collapsed and the aircraft was totaled. All occupants survived the accident.
On February 1, 1975 Viscount 806 overran the Indonesian Mandala Airlines (PK-RVM) on the Airport Taipei Songshan the runway end and only came in a rice field to a halt. All occupants survived the accident. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
On January 7, 1976 Viscount rolled over the 806 Mandala Airlines (PK-RVK) at Manado airport , the end of the wet runway by 180 meters and was damaged beyond repair. All 16 occupants survived the accident.
On August 15, 1976, a Viscount 785D of the Ecuadorian SAETA (HC-ARS) with 59 people on board disappeared on its flight from Quito to Cuenca . The machine had been flown at an altitude of 5500 meters on the eastern flank of the 6263 meter high Chimborazo volcano . It was not until October 17, 2002, after 26 years, that mountaineers found the remains of people and the machine on a rarely traveled route. In this CFIT ( Controlled flight into terrain ), all 59 occupants were killed, 4 crew members and 55 passengers (see also SAETA flight 232 ) .
On January 15, 1977, a Viscount 838 (SE-FOZ) rented by Linjeflyg from Skyline crashed into a parking lot in Kälvesta , a suburb of Stockholm, while approaching Stockholm / Bromma . All 22 people on board were killed. Some cars were destroyed and some homes were damaged by fire from the burning aircraft. The accident was triggered by icing of the horizontal stabilizer, which resulted in the aircraft becoming uncontrollable when the landing flaps were extended to the end position. The Swedish pilots were not informed that the aircraft type was susceptible to this form of icing, which occurs frequently in northern Europe in winter (see also Linjeflyg flight 618 ) .
On September 3, 1978, an Air Rhodesia (VP-WAS) Viscount 782D was shot down with an anti-aircraft missile by Joshua Nkomo's terrorist group ZIPRA after taking off from Kariba Airport ( Rhodesia ) . The machine was on its way to Salisbury Airport . She was hit on the right wing . The pilots made an outland landing in a large clearing in the bush. The plane slid over an irrigation dam, made a ringelpiez , broke apart and caught fire. 38 inmates were killed. Then the terrorists murdered the 10 survivors they found on the wreck. Only eight passengers got away with their lives. A total of 48 people were killed (see also Air Rhodesia flight 825 ) .
On February 12, 1979 another Vickers Viscount 748D of Air Rhodesia (VP-YND) was shot down with an anti-aircraft missile by Joshua Nkomo's terrorist group ZIPRA after taking off from Kariba airport ( Rhodesia ) . The machine was on its way to Salisbury Airport . It was hit on engine 2 (inside left), caught fire and crashed uncontrollably. All 59 occupants, 5 crew members and 54 passengers, were killed (see also Air Rhodesia flight 827 ) .
On April 23, 1979 a Viscount 785D of the Ecuadorian SAETA (HC-AVP) was flown into the mountains in the province of Pastaza ( Ecuador ). The plane was on its way from Quito to Cuenca . The wreck of the machine was only found five years later (1984) at an altitude of 5,500 meters, 25 nautical miles (46 kilometers) from the prescribed flight route. All 57 occupants, 5 crew members and 52 passengers were killed in this CFIT ( Controlled flight into terrain ).
1980s
On August 26, 1980, a Viscount 812 of Bouraq Indonesia Airlines ( aircraft registration number PK-IVS) crashed about 26 kilometers northeast of the destination Jakarta-Kemayoran airport after a complete loss of control . The machine was leased from the Taiwanese Far Eastern Air Transport . The cause was the breaking off of the right elevator, triggered by the breakage of the centering pin of the right Flettner rudder . This had exceeded its permissible flight hour limit of 12,000 hours by 21,000 hours, almost twice as much. All 37 occupants (6 crew members and 31 passengers) were killed as a result of this maintenance error (see also the flight accident involving Bouraq Indonesia Airlines in 1980 ) .
On August 26, 1981, a Vickers Viscount 745d was Aeropesca Colombia (HK-1320) flown into the mountain Santa Elena, about 48 kilometers north of Florencia ( Colombia ). The machine was on the flight from Florencia to Neiva . All 50 occupants, 6 crew members and 44 passengers were killed in this CFIT ( Controlled flight into terrain ).
On March 26, 1982 a Viscount 745D from Aeropesca Colombia (HK-2382) was flown into a mountain at an altitude of 2350 meters near Quétame ( Colombia ). The machine was on the flight from Villavicencio to Bogota . All 50 occupants, 6 crew members and 44 passengers were killed in this CFIT ( Controlled flight into terrain ).
On June 18, 1988 fell shortly before landing a Viscount 828 of Indonesia's Merpati Nusantara Airlines (PK-MVG) at Medan-Polonia hydraulic from. The hardly controllable aircraft rolled down to the right of the runway and was badly damaged. All 48 occupants survived the accident. After a transfer flight to Jakarta-Cengkareng , an economic total loss was determined.
On July 4, 1988, a Viscount 843 of the Indonesian Bouraq Indonesia Airlines (PK-IVW) landed with a tailwind on the wet runway at Balikpapan Airport . After touchdown, the nose and right main landing gear collapsed. The machine was damaged beyond repair. All 76 occupants survived the accident.
On November 23, 1988, a Gibraltar Airways (G-BBVH) Viscount 807 had an accident while landing at Tangier Airport ( Morocco ). The plane coming from Gibraltar Airport, which is only 70 kilometers away , slipped after touching down to the left of the runway and over a shallow canal, causing irreparable damage. All 78 occupants, 4 crew members and 74 passengers survived the crash landing. The landing was carried out during a heavy rain shower with a tail wind of around 18 knots.
1990s
On July 24, 1992, a Mandala Airlines Viscount 816 ( aircraft registration number PK-RVU ) was flown into a 700 meter high mountain about 15 kilometers west of the destination airport Ambon-Pattimura ( Moluccas ). All 70 inmates were killed. This was the accident with the most fatalities on board a Viscount (excluding personal injury on the ground).
On February 25, 1994, on a British World Airlines (G-OHOT) Viscount 813 on a cargo flight from Edinburgh to Coventry, engines 2, 3 and 4 failed one after the other due to heavy icing, followed by an extensive failure of the electrical system. The attempt to make an emergency landing in Birmingham was unsuccessful, as the machine came about 50 kilometers north of it landed and broke. The flight captain was killed (see also British World Airlines Flight 4272 ) .
On September 26, 1994 (according to other information on November 26) a Viscount 843 of the Indonesian Bouraq Indonesia Airlines (PK-IVU) was badly damaged when landing at Pontianak airport . The two pilots (the only occupants) survived. After a transfer flight to Jakarta-Cengkareng Airport , the aircraft was decommissioned there as irreparable.
On April 15th (April 27th?) 2003 the flight crew of a Viscount 836 of the Congolese Trans Intair (9Q-CGL) tried to take off with only three functioning engines from a 900 meter long gravel runway in the Congo. This experiment ended with a fall into adjacent trees. All three crew members (the only occupants) survived the event. It was the last known accident involving a Vickers Viscount.
