What happened
A Sabena flight traveling from Lisbon to Léopoldville, via Brussels, experienced significant vibration in its number one engine. In response to the mechanical issue, the crew deactivated the engine and notified Casablanca Air Traffic Control of their intention to perform an emergency landing at the airport.
During the approach to runway 2ically, the DC-7 failed to make contact with the runway surface. Approximately 600 meters beyond the threshold, while flying at an altitude of 5 meters with the landing gear extended and flaps at full setting, the crew applied maximum power. This action caused the aircraft to enter a steep left-hand climb. As the plane reached an altitude of 25 meters, it entered a stall, subsequently striking buildings and resulting in a post-crash fire.
The accident resulted in 61 fatalities and 4 injuries among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations determined that the crew failed to follow standard go-around procedures. The proper protocol required a gradual application of throttle to reach V2 speed, followed by the retraction of landing gear and a reduction of flaps from 50 to 20 degrees once reaching 115 knots. The primary factor in the accident was an error in judgment regarding the application of power while the aircraft was not in a suitable configuration or at an adequate airspeed for the maneuver.