Douglas DC-8 crash, Jan 19, 1961 (4 killed), New York-Idl...
Douglas DC-8 accident on January 19, 1961 near New York-Idlewild New York, United States with 4 fatalities. Cause: Captain Robert Poe, seated in the...
- Date: January 19, 1961
- Aircraft: Douglas DC-8
- Location: New York-Idlewild New York, United States
- Fatalities: 4
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Captain Robert Poe, seated in the jump seat, reduced thrust during rotation in the belief that takeoff speed was too low; a contribution from pitot tube icing could not be determined
Aeronaves de Mexico Flight 401, a Douglas DC 8 leased from Eastern Air Lines, began its takeoff from runway 7R at New York Idlewild on 19 January 1961 in snow and fog. Check Captain Robert Poe, seated in the jump seat, reduced thrust after rotation because he believed the speed was too low. The aircraft overran the runway, broke through a fence and caught fire, and four crew members were killed.