Amarillo – Lubbock – Midland – San Angelo – Austin

On July 8, 1962 at 07:06 AM, Amarillo – Lubbock – Midland – San Angelo – Austin experienced a crash involving Vickers Viscount, operated by Continental Airlines, with the event recorded near Amarillo Texas.

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

16 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 16 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 3, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 13, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. A Continental Air Lines Vickers-Armstrongs Viscount Model 812, N243V, was landed wheels-up, almost immediately following takeoff from the Amarillo Municipal Airport, Amarillo, Texas, on July 8, 1962, at approximately 0706LT. There were no serious injuries to any of the 13 passengers or 3 crew members. The aircraft was destroyed by fire. After normal lift-off and landing gear retraction, the captain was momentarily distracted by rainwater from the window channel falling on his left shirt sleeve and he inadvertently allowed the aircraft to settle until Nos. 2 and 3 propellers struck the runway. No. 4 engine and propeller were damaged by pieces of metal thrown from the No. 3 propeller. Increasingly severe vibration, a rapidly developing right wing heaviness, and sudden and excessive rise of exhaust gas temperatures of Nos. 2 and 3 engines dictated an immediate emergency landing. This was effected, wheels up, in a harvested wheat field approximately 6,930 feet beyond the end of runway 21 and in a direction 21 degrees to the right of its extended centerline.

Aircraft reference details include registration N243V, MSN 354, year of manufacture 1958.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 35.2073°, -101.8371°.