Tel Aviv – Rome – Zurich – Amsterdam
Flight / Schedule
Tel Aviv – Rome – Zurich – Amsterdam
Aircraft
Douglas DC-4Registration
4X-ADN
MSN
10512
Year of Manufacture
1945
Operator
El Al Israel AirlinesDate
November 24, 1951 at 06:00 AM
Type
CRASHFlight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Crash Location
Zurich Zurich
Region
Europe • Switzerland
Coordinates
47.3842°, 8.4949°
Crash Cause
Human factor
Narrative Report
On November 24, 1951 at 06:00 AM, Tel Aviv – Rome – Zurich – Amsterdam experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-4, operated by El Al Israel Airlines, with the event recorded near Zurich Zurich.
The flight was categorized as cargo and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.
7 people were known to be on board, 6 fatalities were recorded, 1 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 85.7%.
Crew on board: 7, crew fatalities: 6, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.
The listed crash cause is human factor. On final approach to Zurich-Kloten Airport, the pilot-in-command did not realize his altitude was insufficient due to poor visibility caused by night and foggy conditions. The four engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located about 5 km north of the runway 16 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and six crew members were killed while a seventh occupant was injured. Crew: Cpt Theodore Gibson, pilot, † Cpt Robert Constant, copilot, † George Henninger, navigator, † Morgen Jensen, † Terence Melly, copilot, † Shlomo Levity, † Michael Querzia, radio operator.
Aircraft reference details include registration 4X-ADN, MSN 10512, year of manufacture 1945.
Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 47.3842°, 8.4949°.
Fatalities
Total
6
Crew
6
Passengers
0
Other
0
Crash Summary
On final approach to Zurich-Kloten Airport, the pilot-in-command did not realize his altitude was insufficient due to poor visibility caused by night and foggy conditions. The four engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located about 5 km north of the runway 16 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and six crew members were killed while a seventh occupant was injured. Crew: Cpt Theodore Gibson, pilot, † Cpt Robert Constant, copilot, † George Henninger, navigator, † Morgen Jensen, † Terence Melly, copilot, † Shlomo Levity, † Michael Querzia, radio operator.
Cause: Human factor
Occupants & Outcome
Crew On Board
7
Passengers On Board
0
Estimated Survivors
1
Fatality Rate
85.7%
Known people on board: 7
Operational Details
Schedule / Flight
Tel Aviv – Rome – Zurich – Amsterdam
Operator
El Al Israel AirlinesFlight Type
Cargo
Flight Phase
Landing (descent or approach)
Crash Site
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Region / Country
Europe • Switzerland
Aircraft Details
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