On 16 Dec 1960, a United Airlines DC-8 and a TWA Super Constellation collided in midair over Brooklyn, N.Y., killing all 128 occupants aboard the aircraft and eight persons on the ground. CAB determined that the probable cause was that the United Airlines flight proceeded beyond its clearance limit and confines of the airspace assigned by ATC. The DC-8's high speed, coupled with a change of clearance which reduced the distance which the aircraft needed to travel by approximately 11 miles, contributed to the crash. The Board concluded that the crew did not take note of the change of time and distance associated with the new clearance. The crew's workload was increased by the fact that one of their two VOR receivers was inoperative, a fact unbeknown to ATC.
FAA actions taken as a result of the accident included:
1. A requirement that pilots operating under instrument flight rules report malfunctions of navigation or communications equipment, effective 17 Feb 1961.
2. A programme to equip all turbine-powered aircraft with DME.
3. A speed rule, effective 18 Dec 1961, prohibiting aircraft from exceeding 250 knots when within 30 nautical miles of a destination airport and below 10000 feet, except for certain military jets requiring a higher minimum speed for safe operation.
4. Other steps to strengthen air traffic control procedures.
Last edited by BEagle; 13th January 2008 at 19:37.