Summary Engine failure Crew 11 Survivors 23 Number of deaths 50 Operator Trans World Airlines | Passengers 62 Fatalities 50 Date 23 November 1964 Injuries (nonfatal) 23 Survivor 23 | |
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Site Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy Destinations Ellinikon International Airport, Athens, Greece Similar TWA Flight 6963, TWA Flight 159, TWA Flight 891, 1965 Carmel mid‑air co, TWA Flight 513 | ||
TWA Flight 800 was a Boeing 707 that crashed during take off on runway 25 at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport, Rome at 13:05 GMT on a flight to Athens International Airport, Greece on 23 November 1964. As the Boeing 707 was at 80 knots, the instruments for No. 4 engine indicated zero thrust and the thrust reverser deployment light for No. 2 engine illuminated. The crew aborted the takeoff at a speed below V1 at 800-900m down the runway. The aircraft did not slow down as quickly as the crew expected and veered to the right, whereupon No. 4 engine struck a pavement roller. The aircraft caught fire and traveled another 260m before coming to rest. The accident killed 50 passengers and crew on board, with 23 passengers and crew surviving.
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Twa flight 800 remastered re creation
Cause
The cause of the accident was an inoperative No. 2 engine reverse thrust system, even though indications in the cockpit were that the reverser had deployed. This was caused by the disconnection of a duct with resulting lack of pressure in the pneumatic clamshell door actuating mechanism. This malfunction allowed the development of considerable forward thrust by No. 2 engine even though the thrust levers for all four engines were in the "reverse" position.
More information about this accident can be found in a book published in 1967, called "Airline Safety is a Myth". It was written by the captain of this aircraft, Vernon William Lowell. He survived the accident and went on to become a passionate advocate for improved safety in airline travel.