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1977 Dan-Air Boeing 707 crash: Difference between revisions
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==History of aircraft== | ==History of aircraft== | ||
The aircraft was a Boeing 707-321C that first entered service with Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) in 1963. This aircraft was also the first convertible 707 built,<ref name="Cheney"/> featuring a large freight door on the left-hand side of the forward fuselage, that permitted the carriage of main deck cargo when configured as a freighter. Dan-Air acquired the aircraft in 1976. It was the fourth 707 the UK independent<ref group=nb>the term "independent" in this context denotes private, generally unsubsidised UK airlines that were financially and operationally independent from the crown corporations, i.e. British European Airways, British Overseas Airways Corporation and British Airways (prior to privatisation)</ref> operated, as well as the type's second turbofan-powered and second convertible example in service with the airline. At the time of the accident it had flown about 47,000 hours.<ref>''The Spirit of Dan-Air'', Simons, G.M., GMS Enterprises, Peterborough, 1993, pp. 90, 231</ref> | The aircraft was a Boeing 707-321C that first entered service with Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) in 1963. This aircraft was also the first convertible 707 built,<ref name="Cheney"/> featuring a large freight door on the left-hand side of the forward fuselage, that permitted the carriage of main deck cargo when configured as a freighter. Dan-Air acquired the aircraft in 1976. It was the fourth 707 the UK independent<ref group=nb>the term "independent" in this context denotes private, generally unsubsidised UK airlines that were financially and operationally independent from the crown corporations, i.e. British European Airways, British Overseas Airways Corporation and British Airways (prior to privatisation)</ref> operated, as well as the type's second turbofan-powered and second convertible example in service with the airline. At the time of the accident it had flown about 47,000 hours.<ref>''The Spirit of Dan-Air'', Simons, G.M., GMS Enterprises, Peterborough, 1993, pp. 90, 231</ref> | ||
==History of flight== | |||
The flight was a three-legged originating from [[London Heathrow Airport]] to Athens ([[Ellinikon International Airport|Hellinikon Airport]]), which was uneventful; from Athens it then proceeded to Nairobi ([[Jomo Kenyatta International Airport]]). Departure from Nairobi for Lusaka on the final leg occurred as planned at 07:17, 14 May. | |||
The 707 cruised at flight level 310 for about two hours, after which it was cleared for descent to flight level 110. Flight level 110 was reached at approximately 09:23, and clearance was granted to begin descent towards a target of flight level 70. Just before 09:30, clearance to descend to {{convert|6000|ft|abbr=on}} was granted, and moments later the plane was cleared to make a visual approach to runway 10. A few minutes later, witnesses saw the entire right horizontal stabiliser and elevator assembly detach from the aircraft. The aircraft subsequently lost pitch control and entered a nose-dive from about {{convert|800|ft|abbr=on}} to ground level, destroying the aircraft on impact. | |||
There were no survivors among the five crew members and one jumpseat passenger on board the aircraft. There were no other fatalities on the ground. The wreckage was located approximately {{convert|12010|ft|abbr=on}} from the runway. | |||
