Croydon – Amsterdam

On approach to Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport, the crew was forced to make a go around due to poor visibility caused by night and bad weather conditions. A second attempt to land was abandoned as well. During the third attempt to land, the captain realized that his position to the runway was wrong and made a sharp turn to the left when the aircraft hit the runway surface and burst into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 26 occupants were killed.

Flight / Schedule

Croydon – Amsterdam

Registration

PH-TBW

MSN

20122

Year of Manufacture

1944

Date

November 14, 1946 at 07:15 AM

Type

CRASH

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Crash Location

Amsterdam North Holland

Region

Europe • Netherlands

Coordinates

52.3418°, 4.8234°

Crash Cause

Human factor

Narrative Report

On November 14, 1946 at 07:15 AM, Croydon – Amsterdam experienced a crash involving Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3), operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines - Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij, with the event recorded near Amsterdam North Holland.

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.

26 people were known to be on board, 26 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 21, passenger fatalities: 21, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. On approach to Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport, the crew was forced to make a go around due to poor visibility caused by night and bad weather conditions. A second attempt to land was abandoned as well. During the third attempt to land, the captain realized that his position to the runway was wrong and made a sharp turn to the left when the aircraft hit the runway surface and burst into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 26 occupants were killed.

Aircraft reference details include registration PH-TBW, MSN 20122, year of manufacture 1944.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 52.3418°, 4.8234°.

Fatalities

Total

26

Crew

5

Passengers

21

Other

0

Crash Summary

On approach to Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport, the crew was forced to make a go around due to poor visibility caused by night and bad weather conditions. A second attempt to land was abandoned as well. During the third attempt to land, the captain realized that his position to the runway was wrong and made a sharp turn to the left when the aircraft hit the runway surface and burst into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 26 occupants were killed.

Cause: Human factor

Occupants & Outcome

Crew On Board

5

Passengers On Board

21

Estimated Survivors

0

Fatality Rate

100.0%

Known people on board: 26

Operational Details

Schedule / Flight

Croydon – Amsterdam

Flight Type

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Flight Phase

Landing (descent or approach)

Crash Site

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Region / Country

Europe • Netherlands

Aircraft Details

Registration

PH-TBW

MSN

20122

Year of Manufacture

1944

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