KLM Flight 633

KLM Flight 633

Infobox Airliner accident|name=KLM Flight 633
Date=September 5 1954
Type=Mechanical failure
Site= Shannon, Ireland
Fatalities=28
Injuries=Unknown
Aircraft Type=Lockheed Super Constellation
Operator=KLM
Tail Number=airreg|PH|LKY|disaster
Ship name=Triton
Passengers=46
Crew=10
Survivors=28

KLM Flight 633 was a passenger flight from Amsterdam to New York City. On September 5, 1954, immediately after takeoff from Shannon Airport, the plane ditched on a mudbank in the River Shannon. 28 people were killed in the accident.

Triton disaster

The Lockheed Super Constellation "Triton" (registration PH-LKY) was piloted by Adriaan Viruly, one of the airline's most senior pilots. After a refueling stop at Shannon, the plane took off for the transatlantic leg of the flight at about 02:30. There were 46 passengers and 10 crew on board.

Less than a minute after takeoff, the aircraft crashed into a mudbank of the river. Although the crash site was only about 2500 metres from the airport, no one was aware of the disaster. Rescue operations were only started after the plane's navigator, after having crossed the river, managed to reach the airport.

The aircraft was partially submerged, and at least one of the fuel tanks had ruptured during the crash. The fuel fumes rendered many passengers and crew unconscious, who then drowned in the rising tide. In the end, 3 crewmembers and 25 passengers perished.

Cause of the accident

The official investigation concluded that the accident was caused by an unexpected re-extension of the landing gear and the captain's incorrect behaviour in this situation. Viruly, who had been only one year from retirement, rejected the responsibility for the crash and was bitter about his subsequent treatment by KLM. In an interview he later stated that there simply had not been enough time to react.

External links

* [http://www.aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19540905-0 Aviation Safety Network database entry]
* [http://www.dutch-aviation.nl/index7/index7-Ongevalsonderzoek.html Dutch site dedicated to Viruly]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • KLM Royal Dutch Airlines — KLM IATA KL OACI KLM Indicativo KLM …   Wikipedia Español

  • KLM — Infobox Airline airline = KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij logo size = 200 fleet size = 163 (+70 orders) including KLM Asia destinations = 177 IATA = KL ICAO = KLM callsign = KLM parent = Air France KLM company slogan …   Wikipedia

  • US Airways Flight 1549 — The downed US Airways Flight 1549 floating on the Hudson River Accident summary Date …   Wikipedia

  • Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 — Artist rendition of the moment the left wing struck the water. Hijacking summary Date November 23, 1996 …   Wikipedia

  • BOAC Flight 781 — A BOAC de Havilland Comet 1 similar to accident aircraft Accident summary Date 10 Janua …   Wikipedia

  • Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2 — For the 1938 accident in Bozeman, Montana, see Northwest Airlines Flight 2. Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2 Accident summary Date April 2, 1956 Type Crew error …   Wikipedia

  • ALM Flight 980 — Accident summary Date 2 May 1970 Type Fuel exhaustion due to pilot error Site …   Wikipedia

  • Non-stop flight — A non stop flight, especially in the aviation industry, refers to any flight by an aircraft which does not involve any intermediate stops. A direct flight is not the same as a non stop flight . For purposes of this article, an ultra long haul non …   Wikipedia

  • Chronologie des catastrophes aériennes — Voici une liste non exhaustive de catastrophes aériennes. Afin de vous guider quant à la typologie des crashs aériens repris dans cette rubrique, sont repris ici: les crashes disposant de sources sérieuses consacrées au sujet, reprenant les… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • List of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft — This list of accidents and incidents involving commercial aircraft is grouped by the years in which the accidents and incidents occurred. For more exhaustive lists, see the [http://www.baaa acro.com/ Aircraft Crash Record Office] or the… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”