Watch KLM Flight 607-E Video

KLM Flight 607-E, also known as Hugo de Groot, registration PH-LKM, was an international scheduled flight operated by a Lockheed Super Constellation that crashed 180 kilometres west of Shannon, Ireland on August 14, 1958. All 99 on board died in the accident, including six members of the Egyptian fencing team. The "E" in the flight number stood for the designation of being an extra economy...  MORE

KLM Flight 607-E, also known as Hugo de Groot, registration PH-LKM, was an international scheduled flight operated by a Lockheed Super Constellation that crashed 180 kilometres west of Shannon, Ireland on August 14, 1958. All 99 on board died in the accident, including six members of the Egyptian fencing team. The "E" in the flight number stood for the designation of being an extra economy class flight to match the increased seasonal tourist demand. Flight 607-E departed Shannon, Ireland at 3:05 GMT on the second leg of a transatlantic trip from Amsterdam to New York City with intermediate stops in Shannon and Gander, Newfoundland. Radio contact with the aircraft was lost at approximately 3:40 GMT; a rescue operation was launched which found light debris on the surface of the ocean approximately 180 km west of Shannon. The remains of 34 of those on board were also recovered. Due to the unknown depth of the crash location, no salvage effort was attempted. Due to the lack of evidence, Irish and Dutch investigators could not pinpoint a probable cause for the accident. They examined the possibility of a bomb, electrical failure, or pilot error, but believed that the most likely possibility was a catastrophic mechanical failure. The cause of the accident is believed to be a malfunctioning overspeeding outboard propeller caused by metal particles obstructing oil feed line regulator valves. The particles may have been formed by a gear that was damaged when the supercharger of the corresponding engine was accelerated. The malfunctions of the propeller pitch might have provoked a flight disturbance and as a consequence the propeller may have sheared off. KLM made modifications to the oil feed lines serving the propeller mechanism making the possibility of such a propeller event much less likely. LESS