Crash of the Century (Collision on the Runway)

The Tenerife airport disaster in 1977 was a collision involving two Boeing 747 passenger aircraft on the runway of Los Rodeos Airport (now known as Tenerife North Airport) on the Spanish island of Tenerife, one of the Canary Islands. With 583 fatalities, the crash remains the deadliest accident in aviation history. All 248 aboard the fully-fuelled KLM Flight 4805 were killed. There were also 335 fatalities and 61 survivors from Pan Am Flight 1736, which was struck along its spine by the KLM's landing gear, under-belly and four engines. Rescue crews were unaware for over 20 minutes that the Pan Am aircraft was also involved in the accident, because of the heavy fog and the separation of the crippled aircraft following the collision.

The collision took place on March 27, 1977, at 17:06:56 local time. The aircraft were operating as Pan Am Flight 1736 (the Clipper Victor) under the command of Captain Victor Grubbs, and KLM Flight 4805 (the Rijn) under the command of Captain Jacob Veldhuyzen van Zanten. Taking off in heavy fog on the airport's only runway, the KLM flight crashed into the top of the Pan Am aircraft backtaxiing in the opposite direction. The Pan Am had followed the backtaxiing of the KLM aircraft, under the direction of air traffic control, and the KLM's flight crew had been aware of Pan Am backtaxiing behind them on the same runway. Despite lack of visual confirmation due to the fog the KLM captain thought that Pan Am had cleared the runway and so attempted to take off without further clearance to do so. Several other key factors contributed to the accident.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Crash of the Century
• tenerife airport disaster

[sixnightsaweek]

The Van Zanten Pilot was a total ass, he figured he was the greatess thing to hit the skies, His mistake almost put KLM out of business

[F111C4EVER]

I don't like to swear on here much, but this "accident" was a human fuckup of EPIC PROPORTIONS....

[JuanJohnSmith]

@F111C4EVER I coudn't agree with you more.

[MuerteQuerida]

@steveskin1 It's called television. They're actors.

[steveskin1]

@yo1706 You're absolutely right. There seemed to be soo much more tension in the KLM cockpit even though they were both flying all day. Van Zanten had his crew on edge.

[yo1706]

well the pilot from PAN AM looks more lively and way more fun than the KLM's ones

[wenharn]

@0803049135 Do you believe the cockpit recorder?

[2vintage68]

Really a superb documentary.

[SQK1200]

Pan Am instead of Clipper?

[0803049135]

I bet it coulde be another story when we hear from dutch investigation. We all know how well US fictionize to be a superhero even nowsdays. Honestly I dont believe this report.

[steveskin1]

@Joseph9536 That woman is very hot!

[steveskin1]

Van Zanten reminds me of some of the arrogant surgeons at the hospital I work with who interrogate staff, and act like the hospital would close without them.