KLM Flight 607-E
 The Hugo de Groot, the aircraft involved in the accident. | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 14 August 1958 |
| Summary | Undetermined |
| Site | Atlantic Ocean (110 mi NNW of Ireland) |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Lockheed L-1049H-01-06-162 Super Constellation |
| Aircraft name | Hugo de Groot |
| Operator | KLM |
| Registration | PH-LKM |
| Flight origin | Amsterdam |
| 1st stopover | Shannon Airport, Ireland |
| Last stopover | Gander, Newfoundland |
| Destination | New York City |
| Passengers | 91 |
| Crew | 8 |
| Fatalities | 99 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Survivors | 0 |
KLM Flight 607-E, a Lockheed Super Constellation named Hugo de Groot and registered PH-LKM,[1] was an international scheduled flight that crashed 180 kilometres (110 mi) west of Shannon, Ireland on 14 August 1958. All ninety-one passengers and eight crew died in the accident, including six members of the Egyptian fencing team (Osman Abdel Hafeez, Mohamed Ali Riad, Ahmed Sabry, et al.).[2] The "E" in the flight number stood for the designation of being an extra economy class flight to match the increased seasonal tourist demand.[3]
Flight 607-E departed Shannon at 3:05 UTC on the second leg of a transatlantic trip from Amsterdam to New York City with intermediate stops in Shannon and Gander, Newfoundland. Radio contact with the aircraft was lost at approximately 3:40 UTC; a rescue operation was launched which found light debris on the surface of the ocean approximately 180 kilometres (110 mi) west of Shannon. The remains of thirty-four of those on board were also recovered.
Due to the lack of evidence, Irish and Dutch investigators could not pinpoint a probable cause for the accident. They examined the possibility of a bomb, electrical failure, or pilot error, but believed that the most likely possibility was a catastrophic mechanical failure. The cause of the accident is believed to be a malfunctioning overspeeding outboard propeller caused by metal particles obstructing oil feed line regulator valves. The particles may have been formed by a gear that was damaged when the supercharger of the corresponding engine was accelerated (gear ratio shifted). The malfunctions of the propeller pitch might have provoked a flight disturbance and as a consequence the propeller may have sheared off.
See also
- Aviation safety
- List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft
- List of accidents involving sports teams
References
- ^ "Civil aircraft register (PH-LKM)". Inspectie Leefomgeving en Transport.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-10-19. Retrieved 2010-09-18.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Tragedy for Homeward-Bound Vacationers". Life. Time Inc. August 25, 1958. Volume 45, No. 8. Page 28. ISSN 0024-3019. Accessed on Google Books. Retrieved on 6 November 2009.