Brussels – Lisbon – Léopoldville

On May 18, 1958 at 04:25 AM, Brussels – Lisbon – Léopoldville experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-7, operated by SABENA - Société Anonyme Belge d'Exploitation de la Navigation Aérienne, with the event recorded near Casablanca-Nouasseur (Mohammed V) Grand Casablanca.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

69 people were known to be on board, 65 fatalities were recorded, 4 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 94.2%.

Crew on board: 9, crew fatalities: 9, passengers on board: 60, passenger fatalities: 56, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The Sabena flight, originating at Brussels, Belgium had departed Lisbon following an intermediate stop on a flight to Leopoldville (now Kinshasa), Belgian Congo. Vibration in the no. 1 engine forced the crew to shut it down. Casablanca ACC was advised that the flight wanted to make an emergency landing there. At 04:19 a runway 21 approach was attempted, but the aircraft did not touch down. Some 600 m past the runway threshold at a height of 5 m and with landing gear down and full flaps, full power was applied. The DC-7 then climbed in a sharp left turn. Reaching a height of 25 m, the plane stalled, crashed into buildings and caught fire. The correct procedure for going around would have been to apply full throttle only gradually attaining V2 speed; retracting the landing gear; and, at 115 kt, retracting the flaps from 50 to 20°.

Aircraft reference details include registration OO-SFA, MSN 45157, year of manufacture 1956.