The Other TWA 800 Accident
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The Other TWA 800 Accident
I found this interesting. There have been two TWA 800 accidents. The famous one out of NYC and an old 707 in Rome as detailed here.......
The Lesser-Known 1964 Crash Involving TWA Flight 800© Provided by SimpleFlying
According to the Aviation Safety Network, the aircraft operating this flight on its fateful day was a Boeing 707-320 that bore the registration N769TW. Data from ATDB.aero shows that the quadjet was around four-and-a-half years old at the time of the crash, as it had entered service with Trans World Airlines back in May 1960.
The aircraft had a total of 62 passengers and 11 crew members onboard upon leaving the Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO). This would have represented a relatively light loading, given that, according to data from Boeing, the 707-320 had a maximum capacity of 189 passengers. A typical two-class layout would have 141 seats.
While accelerating along this runway, the aircraft was traveling at a speed of 80 knots (148 km/h) when the crew's instruments showed that the number four engine was producing zero thrust. As this speed was below V1, the speed at which a plane is committed to taking off, the pilots began the procedure of aborting the takeoff.
However, despite reversing the thrust on the 707's four Pratt & Whitney engines, the aircraft, which was around 800 meters down the runway, didn't slow down as quickly as expected. The jet was also suffering from steering issues, which meant it could not avoid striking a maintenance vehicle.
Research found that, despite the zero thrust indication on engine four, it was actually a damaged reverse thrust system in the number two engine that had been the primary cause of the crash. Indiscernible via cockpit instruments, this meant that this engine retained forward thrust despite being directed to reverse. This caused the imbalance that turned the 707 towards the maintenance vehicle.
The Lesser-Known 1964 Crash Involving TWA Flight 800
lines flight 800 in 1996 is a well-known disaster, particularly as the wreckage of the Boeing 747 involved was reconstructed as part of the investigation into the accident. However, did you know that there had previously been another instance of a flight using this number being involved in a crash?The Lesser-Known 1964 Crash Involving TWA Flight 800© Provided by SimpleFlying
The flight and aircraft involved
The accident in question took place on this day 58 years ago, on November 23rd, 1964. Back then, TWA flight 800 referred to a multi-leg route that connected Kansas City and Cairo via Chicago, New York, Paris, Milan, Rome, and Athens. The disaster being examined here happened at the start of the Rome-Athens leg.According to the Aviation Safety Network, the aircraft operating this flight on its fateful day was a Boeing 707-320 that bore the registration N769TW. Data from ATDB.aero shows that the quadjet was around four-and-a-half years old at the time of the crash, as it had entered service with Trans World Airlines back in May 1960.
The aircraft had a total of 62 passengers and 11 crew members onboard upon leaving the Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO). This would have represented a relatively light loading, given that, according to data from Boeing, the 707-320 had a maximum capacity of 189 passengers. A typical two-class layout would have 141 seats.
Disastrous takeoff
According to the Aviation Safety Network, the disaster occurred just after 14:00 local time, when TWA Flight 800 was attempting to depart from Rome Fiumicino Airport's runway 25. This asphalt-paved strip retains this heading today, and clocks in a length of 3,800 meters (12,467 feet). Despite this, it is the airport's shortest runway.While accelerating along this runway, the aircraft was traveling at a speed of 80 knots (148 km/h) when the crew's instruments showed that the number four engine was producing zero thrust. As this speed was below V1, the speed at which a plane is committed to taking off, the pilots began the procedure of aborting the takeoff.
However, despite reversing the thrust on the 707's four Pratt & Whitney engines, the aircraft, which was around 800 meters down the runway, didn't slow down as quickly as expected. The jet was also suffering from steering issues, which meant it could not avoid striking a maintenance vehicle.
Aftermath and cause
After inadvertently veering to the right and colliding with the maintenance vehicle, it took another 260 meters (853 feet) for the stricken Boeing 707 to come to a stop. An evacuation began at this point, but the plane was rocked by an explosion, which engulfed the wreckage in flames, before this procedure was complete. Sadly, this resulted in the deaths of 45 passengers and five crew members.Research found that, despite the zero thrust indication on engine four, it was actually a damaged reverse thrust system in the number two engine that had been the primary cause of the crash. Indiscernible via cockpit instruments, this meant that this engine retained forward thrust despite being directed to reverse. This caused the imbalance that turned the 707 towards the maintenance vehicle.
