Colombo - Gan AFB

On March 1, 1960 at 12:00 AM, Colombo - Gan AFB experienced a crash involving Handley Page H.P.67 Hastings, operated by Royal Air Force - RAF, with the event recorded near Gan AFB (Addu Atoll) South Province.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a lake, sea, ocean, river crash site.

20 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 20 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 14, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. Weather conditions at Gan AFB were poor with thunderstorm activity, heavy rain falls and low visibility. The captain decided to abandon the approach and made a go around before following a holding circuit for about 20 minutes, waiting for weather improvement. During a second approach, the crew failed to realize his altitude was insufficient (420 feet below the glide) when the airplane struck the water surface about three km short of runway threshold. All 20 occupants were evacuated while the aircraft was lost.

Aircraft reference details include registration TG579, MSN 70, year of manufacture 1949.