What happened
On January 5, 1960, at approximately 15:54 CET, a Swissair Convair Metropolitain 440, registration HB-IMR, was performing a scheduled takeoff from runway 34 at Zurich-Kloten Airport. The aircraft was operated by a crew of five and carrying 33 passengers on a flight to Vienna.
As the aircraft approached the intersection with taxiway 3 and neared its rotation speed, the crew observed a motor vehicle approaching from the right that failed to stop as expected. The vehicle, a Morris Cowley delivery truck (registration ZH-120.140), entered the active runway. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the pilot initiated an early rotation. Despite this maneuver, the aircraft's right main landing gear struck the cabin of the vehicle.
The collision resulted in two fatalities among the occupants of the vehicle. The aircraft sustained damage to the right engine nacelle and the right main landing gear, but the crew and passengers remained uninjured. Following the impact, the aircraft completed a circuit and landed safely on the same runway.
The investigation
The investigation examined the actions of the vehicle occupants, the air traffic control communications, and the technical environment of the airport. Investigators noted that the scene had been disturbed prior to their arrival, and because mobile ground station communications were not recorded on tape at the time, certain details regarding the radio exchange were difficult to reconstruct.
Investigators looked into whether the driver had intentionally disregarded instructions or if a communication error had occurred. They also examined the visibility conditions, noting that construction equipment and earth mounds near the intersection partially obstructed the view of the runway from the taxiway.