Zurich – Amsterdam

On December 14, 1951 at 06:57 PM, Zurich – Amsterdam experienced a crash involving Douglas DC-4, operated by Swissair, with the event recorded near Amsterdam-Schiphol 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.

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: 5, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 15, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. The approach to Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport was completed in thick fog. The captain told the crew that if the ground was not in sight at a height of 50 meters, he would divert to Brussels. On final approach to runway 23, at a distance of 400 meters from the runway threshold, the four engine aircraft hit the ground in a flat attitude. Upon impact, the undercarriages were sheared off, the airplane crashed and came to rest in flames 300 meters short of runway threshold. All 20 occupants were evacuated safely, except for the stewardess who was seriously injured by fire. Crew: O. Schüpbach, pilot, E. Bill, copilot, E. Senn, flight engineer, M. Rüdlinger, radio operator, M. Hutmacher, stewardess.

Aircraft reference details include registration HB-ILO, MSN 43098, year of manufacture 1947.

Geospatial coordinates for this crash are approximately 52.3270°, 4.7415°.