Incident Overview

Date: Thursday 9 May 1957
Aircraft Type: Bristol 170 Freighter 21
Owner/operator: Aviaco
Registration Number: EC-ADI
Location: near Madrid-Barajas – ÿ Spain
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 37 / Occupants: 37
Component Affected: Aircraft radio telemetry system.Aircraft radio telemetry system.
Category: Accident
Aviation Flight 111 experienced a catastrophic accident due to pilot error. The aircraft was flying downwind banking, focusing intently on a green light indicating clearance to land. Upon seeing the light, the pilot rolled to the right, resulting in a spin and subsequent loss of control, leading to a fire.Aviation Flight 111 experienced a catastrophic accident due to pilot error. The aircraft was flying downwind banking, focusing intently on a green light indicating clearance to land. Upon seeing the light, the pilot rolled to the right, resulting in a spin and subsequent loss of control, leading to a fire.

Description

Aviaco Flight 111 departed Santiago de Compostella for a flight to Madrid. The flight was uneventful and the aircraft was assigned runway 23 for landing. The Bristol 170 was flying downwind banking slightly to the left to make it possible for the captain to see the green light (cleared to land) from the control tower more easily. After seeing the green light, the pilot rolled right. The aircraft then entered a right spin, crashed out of control and caught fire. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The accident was due to personnel errors. 1) The failure of radiotelephony compelled the pilot to concentrate on the green light during the approach manoeuvre; 2) The pilot’s attention was so distracted that he operated close to the speed limit. Although such a distraction is infrequent, statistics show that it may occur after 5000, 7000 and even after 13000 flying hours.”

Primary Cause

Personnel errors ? specifically, failure of radio telemetry, causing pilot concentration on the green light during the approach; pilot distraction due to speed limit.Personnel errors ? specifically, failure of radio telemetry, causing pilot concentration on the green light during the approach; pilot distraction due to speed limit.

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