South African Airways Flight 201
| Accident summary | |
|---|---|
| Date | 8 April 1954 |
| Summary | In-flight metal fatigue failure leading to explosive decompression and break-up. |
| Site | Mediterranean Sea between Naples/Stromboli 39°55′N 14°30′E / 39.917°N 14.500°ECoordinates: 39°55′N 14°30′E / 39.917°N 14.500°E |
| Passengers | 14 |
| Crew | 7 |
| Fatalities | 21 (all) |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Aircraft type | de Havilland DH 106 Comet 1 |
| Aircraft name | "Yoke Yoke" |
| Operator | South African Airways on behalf of BOAC |
| Registration | G-ALYY |
| Flight origin | London Heathrow Airport |
| 1st stopover | Ciampino Airport |
| Last stopover | Cairo International Airport |
| Destination | Johannesburg Jan Smuts |
South African Airways Flight 201, a de Havilland Comet 1, took off at 18:32 UTC on 8 April 1954 from Ciampino Airport in Rome, Italy en route to Cairo, Egypt, on the second stage of its flight from London to Johannesburg, South Africa. The flight crashed, killing all aboard at around 19:07 UTC. The flight was operated as a charter by British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) using the aircraft G-ALYY ("Yoke Yoke"), with a South African crew of seven, and carrying 14 passengers.
Gerry Bull and other BOAC engineers examined the aircraft for Flight 201. Previously, the same team had examined BOAC Flight 781 (a Comet that broke up at altitude that January) prior to its final flight.
Flying as SA201, Yoke Yoke took off from London for Rome at 13:00 UTC on Wednesday 7 April 1954, on the first leg southwards to Johannesburg, arriving at Rome approximately two and a half hours later, at 17:35 UTC. On arrival at Rome engineers discovered some minor faults, including a faulty fuel gauge and 30 loose bolts on the left wing, which delayed the aircraft's departure by 25 hours before Yoke Yoke was ready to depart for Cairo on the evening of Thursday 8 April.
The aircraft took off for Cairo at 18:32 UTC under the command of Captain William Mostert, and climbed rapidly towards its cruising height of 35,000 feet (11,000 m). The crew reported over the Ostia beacon at 18:37 UTC, passing through the altitude of 7,000 feet (2,100 m). The weather was good, but with an overcast sky.
Another report was made from the aircraft, first at 18:49 UTC at Ponza, where it reported climbing through 11,600 feet (3,500 m) and another at 18:57 UTC when it reported passing a beam of Naples. At 19:07 UTC, while still climbing, the aircraft contacted Cairo on the long range HF radio and reported an ETA of 21:02 UTC.
This was the last message heard from Yoke Yoke as some time later, the aircraft disintegrated in the night sky at around 35,000 feet (11,000 m), killing everyone on board.
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Wikipedia