What happened
On 6 February 1958, an aircraft operated by British European Airways was performing a return flight from Belgrade to Manchester, with a scheduled refueling stop at Munich-Riem Airport. The aircraft arrived at the airport at 14:17 local time. During the ground operations, the crew attempted to take off three separate times.
During the initial attempt, the co-pilot aborted the takeoff because boost pressure readings for both engines rose above the standard 57.5 inches. Following a brief taxi back to the runway without a new engine run-up, a second takeoff attempt was made. The captain abandoned this second attempt after the port engine's boost pressure reached 60 inches. After the second aborted takeoff, the aircraft rolled to the end of the runway and approached the terminal building. An engineer inspected the plane and suggested that the observed pressure fluctuations were due to the airport's elevation. Following a discussion, the crew decided to proceed with a third attempt, re-boarding the passengers and performing an engine run-up.
During this final takeoff roll, the port engine experienced brief pressure fluctuations before stabilizing. However, the aircraft type failed to become airborne. The plane traveled the full length of the runway and across 250 meters of a grass stopway. It breached a wooden perimeter fence, crossed a secondary road, and collided with a house, which subsequently caught fire. The impact tore the left wing from the engine mounting and damaged the tail unit. The wreckage continued into a wooden hut, causing it to catch fire and resulting in the fuselage breaking apart. Of the 44 occupants on board, 21 fatalities occurred instantly, and an additional 2 deaths were recorded later in the hospital.
Findings
Investigations concluded that ice accumulation on the upper wing surfaces was a primary factor. This ice layer reduced aerodynamic efficiency and increased the speed required for the aircraft to lift off. The investigation also identified that slush and spray on the runway further degraded performance margins. Additionally, conflicting assessments of the situation between the two pilots during the final moments of the takeoff roll likely contributed to the severity of the accident.