Jerusalem – Amman

While approaching Amman-Marka Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to low clouds. The captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground when the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Dabouq, about 19 km from the airport. All four crew members and six passengers were killed while five other passengers were seriously injured.

Flight / Schedule

Jerusalem – Amman

Aircraft

Convair CV-240

Registration

JY-ACB

MSN

55

Year of Manufacture

1948

Operator

Air Jordan

Date

January 22, 1959 at 05:00 PM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Crash Location

Amman Amman City District

Region

Asia • Jordan

Coordinates

32.0231°, 36.1267°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On January 22, 1959 at 05:00 PM, Jerusalem – Amman experienced a crash involving Convair CV-240, operated by Air Jordan, with the event recorded near Amman Amman City District.

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a plain, valley crash site.

15 people were known to be on board, 10 fatalities were recorded, 5 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 66.7%.

Crew on board: 4, crew fatalities: 4, passengers on board: 11, passenger fatalities: 6, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. While approaching Amman-Marka Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to low clouds. The captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground when the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Dabouq, about 19 km from the airport. All four crew members and six passengers were killed while five other passengers were seriously injured.

Aircraft reference details include registration JY-ACB, MSN 55, year of manufacture 1948.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 32.0231°, 36.1267°.

Fatalities

Total

10

Crew

4

Passengers

6

Other

0

Crash Summary

While approaching Amman-Marka Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility due to low clouds. The captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground when the airplane struck trees and crashed in a wooded area located near Dabouq, about 19 km from the airport. All four crew members and six passengers were killed while five other passengers were seriously injured.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

4

Passengers On Board

11

Estimated Survivors

5

Fatality Rate

66.7%

Known people on board: 15

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Jerusalem – Amman

Operator

Air Jordan

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Plain, Valley

Region / Country

Asia • Jordan

Aircraft Details

Aircraft

Convair CV-240

Registration

JY-ACB

MSN

55

Year of Manufacture

1948

Similar Plane Crashes

May 10, 1948 at 12:00 AM4 Fatalities

Israeli Air Force - Heyl Ha'avir

Noorduyn Norseman

Taking part to the Independence War of Israel, the single engine aircraft was engaged in a bombing mission when it crashed in unknown circumstances in Bait Mahseer, a suburb of Amman. All four occupants were killed, among them pilots Yariv Sheinbaum and Daniel Bukstein.

June 22, 1949 at 01:13 PM

American Airlines

Convair CV-240

After 2.700 feet of takeoff roll the aircraft became airborne with an estimated air speed of 120 miles per hour, but at an altitude from 20 to 50 feet the right engine failed and the right propeller automatically feathered. Retraction of the landing gear was accomplished after momentary hesitation as the flight continued straight ahead, gaining altitude very slowly. It passed over the end of the runway at about 50 feet. A power transmission line, 11,700 feet from the start of the takeoff roll. was located across the flight's course. Two towers of this transmission line between which the aircraft was flown extended to an elevation of 371 feet, or a height of 111 feet above the southwest end of Runway 2 from where the takeoff was started. Elevation of the lowest point of the top series of wires as they hung between the two towers was 335 feet or 75 feet above the southwest end of Runway 2. The flight cleared these wires at this lowest point by 10 to 20 feet. Just before flying over the power lines at an air speed of 110 miles per hour, a slow retraction of the flaps was started. After crossing the power lines, the air speed fell to 105 miles per hour even though the left engine continued to develop full takeoff power. Not being able to hold altitude, a shallow right turn was made to relatively clear terrain where the aircraft was crash landed 18,713 feet northeast from the starting point of the takeoff. The aircraft slid over the ground for a distance of 217 feet, skidded over an embankment and a highway, then came to rest. Control tower personnel had observed the feathering of the right propeller and the slow rate of climb. Feeling that the aircraft would not remain airborne, the airport controller instructed another air carrier flight, then on a landing approach to Memphis, to circle the Convair so as to keep the tower advised of its position. Instructions were immediately transmitted to the field's fire and crash personnel following which the city fire and police departments and hospitals were notified. Since fire and crash equipment had actually been dispatched while the aircraft was still in flight, it arrived only two or three minutes after the crash. Fire which started in the left engine nacelle after landing was quickly extinguished, and prompt medical attention was available for all occupants. Although the stewardess had received minor injuries, she, with the aid of one of the passengers, had opened two emergency exits. She had then deplaned all passengers. Thirteen passengers and one crew member received serious injuries, and 18 passengers and two crew members received minor injuries.

August 11, 1949 at 09:17 PM

Northeast Airlines - USA

Convair CV-240

The trip from Boston was routine and at 2112 the flight contacted the Portland tower and received landing instructions as follows "Northeast 812 Able cleared to enter traffic pattern Runway 20. Wind east variable southeast 5. The altimeter 2998. Check on base leg." At 2116 the flight reported turning into final approach and was cleared to land on Runway 20. As the aircraft passed over the approach end of the runway, at an estimated altitude of 20 to 25 feet and an indicated airspeed of 120 mph, the throttles were brought back to what was expected to be the closed position, preparatory to landing. However, due to malfunctioning of the propeller reverse lock mechanism, the throttles were actually brought back beyond the closed position and into the propeller reverse pitch position instead. This unexpected reversal of propeller pitch in flight resulted in an extremely hard landing 237 feet past the approach end of the runway with serious damage to the aircraft structure. The airplane, however, continued along the runway a distance of 1,065 feet from the point of initial impact before it came to rest. Fuel which had been spilled along the runway was ignited by sparks from the damaged aircraft and propellers scraping along the runway surface. The fire became concentrated for a period on the right side adjacent to the right engine and right wing root, but subsequently enveloped the major portion of the aircraft. All passengers were evacuated in an orderly manner through the rear cabin exit door. The captain and first officer made their escape through the left cockpit window after all effective action possible had been taken to control the fire. The airport fire equipment arrived shortly thereafter but was unable to extinguish the fire before the aircraft had been damaged beyond economical repair. Five people were slightly injured while all other occupants were unhurt.

December 18, 1949 at 12:00 AM

Air Jordan

Avro 652 Anson

Shortly after takeoff from Beirut Airport, while climbing by night, the aircraft suffered engine problems. The captain completed an emergency landing on a beach near the airport. While the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair, all 10 occupants were uninjured.

October 31, 1950 at 12:00 AM

Air Jordan

Airspeed AS.65 Consul

Crashed on takeoff at Jerusalem-Atarot Airport for unknown reason. While all six occupants were rescued, the aircraft was written off.

February 27, 1951 at 01:08 PM

Mid-Continent Airlines

Convair CV-240

The flight departed Minneapolis, Minnesota, at 0746LT, bound for Houston, Texas, via schedules intermediate points. A crew change was made at Kansas City, Missouri, and no mechanical discrepancies were reported by the incoming crew with the exception that the left engine torque meter pressure indication was approximately 90 FSI, the normal being approximately 145 PSI The flight departed Kansas City and proceeded in a routine manner to Tulsa, arriving at 1244. The left engine, torque meter pressure indicator was considered inoperative because of its low reading, and was, therefore, disregarded during the flight 2. Following touchdown at Tulsa, the propellers were placed in reverse thrust, and when being returned to positive thrust, the left propeller went to the full feathered position and the engine ceased operation. While taxiing to the loading ramp, attempts were made to start the left engine but were not successful. On departure from Tulsa, no difficulty was encountered in starting the left engine, and the propeller which was in the full feathered position was returned to the low pitch position by use of the propeller governor control. Take-off was accomplished from Tulsa at 1302LT, with 29 passengers, including one infant, and a flight crew consisting of Paul C. Walters, captain, Forrest A. Hull, copilot, Cecelia Littell and loan Stoltenberg, the two stewardesses. Total aircraft weight was 40,304 pounds, which was within the allowable gross weight of 40,500 pounds, and the load was distributed so that the center of gravity was within the certificated limits. Prior to take-off, the engines were run up and the pre-flight check accomplished using a check list. All items checked satisfactorily, with the exception that the left engine torque meter pressure indicator was abnormally low. Flaps were positioned at 24 degrees for take-off. The take-of roll was started on Runway 12, and the signal devices in the cockpit indicated that the automatic feathering unit and the anti-detonation injection unit were functioning. During the take-off roll, the copilot called out the following indicated air speeds. VMC, 107 miles per hour, V1, 121 miles per hour, and V2, 122 miles per hour. The aircraft became airborne at 124 miles per hour, or slightly higher. The landing gear was immediately retracted and the air speed was then observed to be 145 miles per hour at this time, at an altitude estimated to be not over 50 feet, the left propeller was observed to feather and then immediately to rotate slowly. It continued to rotate until the aircraft struck the ground. The crew first became aware that the left engine was malfunctioning when a severe vibration was felt immediately after the gear had been retracted and at the same time the aircraft yawed to the left momentarily. Both engine controls were left at the take-off setting, and a single-engine climb was then initiated. The air speed decreased to approximately 124 miles per hour during the climb to a maximum altitude of approximately 150 feet. At this point, since it was doubtful that this air speed could be maintained, the aircraft was leveled off and a shallow turn to the left was made to avoid flying over a building. As the aircraft started turning at an approximate air speed of 122 miles per hour, the captain, according to the copilot, gave the command to retract the flaps from the 24-degree position to the 12-degree position. The copilot states that he immediately executed the command, stopping the retraction of the flaps at 12 degrees. The captain states that he gave the following command, “ 12-degree flaps. No, leave them where they are.” However, the captain testified that the command was given when the air speed was 107 miles per hour and at a point approximately 3000 feet further along the flight path than where the copilot stated he retracted the flaps. While in the left turn, the aircraft was observed to lose altitude steadily until it struck a grove of trees at a point approximately 17 feet above the ground. After striking the trees it slid on the ground on the underside of the fuselage. All passengers and crew were evacuated safely and in an orderly manner. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.