No fatalities

1953-09-06: Douglas DC-6 (131583) — United States Navy - USN — Hamilton, Bermuda

Hamilton, BermudaLanding (descent or approach)

On September 6, 1953, a Douglas DC-6 (registration 131583) operated by United States Navy - USN was involved in an aviation accident near Hamilton, Bermuda during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft struck the ground before reaching the runway due to an insufficient approach altitude. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781252932Data APIEditorial standards

A four-engine aircraft sustained heavy damage after striking the ground short of the runway during its approach to Bermuda.

What happened

A flight traveling from England toward Florida, which included a scheduled stop at Hamilton-Kindley Field Airport in Bermuda, experienced an accident during its arrival phase. While performing the final approach to the airfield, the four-engine aircraft descended below the required altitude and struck the terrain before reaching the runway threshold.

The impact caused the aircraft to come to a halt while engulfed in flames. Despite the intensity of the fire, all 50 occupants managed to evacuate the plane without any reported fatalities or injuries. The aircraft itself was completely destroyed by the subsequent blaze.

Findings

  • The aircraft was positioned too low during the final approach phase.
  • The impact occurred short of the runway threshold.

Probable cause

The aircraft struck the ground before reaching the runway due to an insufficient approach altitude.