Lockheed L-749 Constellation crash, Aug 9, 1954 (30 killed)
Lockheed L-749 Constellation accident on August 9, 1954 near Lajes Azores Islands, Portugal with 30 fatalities. Cause: Pilot failed to follow the...
- Date: August 9, 1954
- Aircraft: Lockheed L-749 Constellation
- Location: Lajes Azores Islands, Portugal
- Fatalities: 30
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Pilot failed to follow the standard climb-out procedure and turned left instead of right, flying into the mountains; no mechanical failure found
The Avianca Constellation HK-163 was diverted to Lajes after fog at Ponta Delgada. Three minutes after taking off at night for Hamilton, Bermuda, it struck a mountain about 9 km southwest of the airport and burst into flames. All 30 people on board were killed.