Accident Sequence
During final approach to Zurich-Kloten Airport, the pilot-in-command failed to maintain sufficient altitude due to poor visibility resulting from night conditions and fog. The four-engine aircraft struck tree tops and subsequently crashed in flames in a wooded area approximately 5 kilometers north of the threshold of runway 16. The impact and ensuing fire destroyed the aircraft.
Crew and Occupants
The aircraft carried a crew of seven. Six crew members were killed: Captain Theodore Gibson (pilot), Captain Robert Constant (copilot), George Henninger (navigator), Morgen Jensen, Terence Melly (copilot), Shlomo Levity, and Michael Querzia (radio operator). One additional crew member was injured. The source does not specify the role of all deceased individuals beyond those listed.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the pilot-in-command did not realize his altitude was inadequate. This was attributed to the combination of night and foggy conditions severely limiting visibility. No other causal factors are mentioned in the source.
Aircraft Damage
The aircraft was destroyed by the post-crash fire that engulfed the wreckage after the collision with trees and the ground.