Douglas DC-8 crash, Oct 7, 1979 (14 killed), Athens-Ellin...
Douglas DC-8 accident on October 7, 1979 near Athens-Ellinikon Attica, Greece with 14 fatalities. Cause: Unstabilized approach with excessive speed and...
- Date: October 7, 1979
- Aircraft: Douglas DC-8
- Location: Athens-Ellinikon Attica, Greece
- Fatalities: 14
- Phase of flight: Approach and landing
- Cause: Unstabilized approach with excessive speed and a late, fast touchdown on a wet runway. The crew did not fully use the wheel brakes and reverse thrust, and the aircraft could not stop within the remaining runway.
Swissair Flight 316, a DC-8-62 on a Zurich to Beijing service via Geneva, Athens and Bombay, landed about 800 to 900 meters down runway 15L at Athens Ellinikon after an unstabilized approach. It overran the runway, went through the perimeter fence and into a ravine, and burned. Fourteen passengers died.