Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 6 November 1963
Aircraft Type: Douglas DC-8-54F
Owner/operator: Trans-Canada Air Lines – TCAL
Registration Number: CF-TJM
Location: London Airport (LHR) – ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 97
Component Affected: Elevator control systemElevator control system
Category: Accident
A DC-8 aircraft attempting a takeoff from runway 28L failed due to a misjudgment of the runway’s visual range. The captain, speeding through 132 knots, moved the control column backward, resulting in the aircraft overrunning the runway. The aircraft then crashed into a cabbage field, 800 yards past the end of the runway.A DC-8 aircraft attempting a takeoff from runway 28L failed due to a misjudgment of the runway’s visual range. The captain, speeding through 132 knots, moved the control column backward, resulting in the aircraft overrunning the runway. The aircraft then crashed into a cabbage field, 800 yards past the end of the runway.

Description

Following a failed attempt to takeoff from runway 28L, the captain decided to try runway 28R because the runway visual range (RVR) was reported 500 yards, whereas the RVR of 28L was 150 yards. While speeding through 132 knots the captain moved the control column back, but felt no response. Because the controls felt as though they were not connected, he decided to abort the takeoff. The DC-8 overran the runway at high speed and came to rest in a cabbage field, 800 yards past the end of the runway. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The captain in the mistaken belief that the elevator control system was defective, abandoned the take-off at a speed and position on the runway which precluded the possibility of bringing the aircraft to a halt in the runway length remaining.”

Primary Cause

The captain’s mistaken belief that the elevator control system was defective led to a miscalculated speed and position on the runway, preventing the aircraft from halting in the remaining runway length.The captain’s mistaken belief that the elevator control system was defective led to a miscalculated speed and position on the runway, preventing the aircraft from halting in the remaining runway length.

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