Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 22 December 1955
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47B-35-DK (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Manx Airlines
Registration Number: G-AMZC
Location: 5 km NE of Dsseldorf Airport (DUS) –
ÿ Germany
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: The aircraft’s instrument system and pilot’s navigation procedures.The aircraft’s instrument system and pilot’s navigation procedures.
Category: Accident
A ILS approach was initiated at Dsseldorf, Germany, but visibility was severely limited due to low clouds. The pilot continued to visually navigate despite the reduced visibility, resulting in the aircraft descending too low and impacting a nearby tree, leading to a crash approximately 3 miles short of the runway.A ILS approach was initiated at Dsseldorf, Germany, but visibility was severely limited due to low clouds. The pilot continued to visually navigate despite the reduced visibility, resulting in the aircraft descending too low and impacting a nearby tree, leading to a crash approximately 3 miles short of the runway.
Description
Visibility at Dsseldorf was poor due to low clouds. The crew had been cleared for an ILS approach, but continued visually. The aircraft descended too low and struck trees, crashing about 3 miles short of the runway. PROBABLE CAUSE: “Incorrect instrument flying. The pilot is assumed to have abandoned the instrument approach before being satisfied that the landing could be completed under visual conditions.”
Primary Cause
Incorrect instrument flying, specifically the pilot abandoning the instrument approach before achieving satisfactory landing conditions.Incorrect instrument flying, specifically the pilot abandoning the instrument approach before achieving satisfactory landing conditions.Share on:
