Varig Flight 837

Varig Flight 837 was a flight from Fiumicino Airport, Rome, Italy to Roberts International Airport, Monrovia, Liberia, originating in Beirut, Lebanon. On 5 March 1967, due to pilot error, the flight crashed during approach to Runway 04 of Roberts International Airport.[1] Of the 71 passengers and 19 crew on board, 50 passengers and the flight engineer perished. In addition, 5 people on the ground were also killed. The aircraft caught fire and was written off. This is the worst aviation accident in Liberia to this day.[2][3]

Varig Flight 837
A Varig Douglas DC-8-33, similar to the accident aircraft
Accident
Date5 March 1967 (1967-03-05)
SummaryControlled flight into terrain caused by pilot error
SiteRoberts International Airport, Monrovia, Liberia
6.207°N 10.37897°W / 6.207; -10.37897
Total fatalities56 (5 ground fatalities)
Aircraft
Aircraft typeDouglas DC-8-33
OperatorVarig
RegistrationPP-PEA
Flight originFiumicino – Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (IATA code: FCO, ICAO code: LIRF), Rome, Italy
StopoverRoberts International Airport (IATA code: ROB, ICAO code: GLRB), Monrovia, Liberia
DestinationGaleão International Airport (IATA code: GIG, ICAO code: SBGL), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Passengers71
Crew19
Fatalities51
Survivors39
Ground casualties
Ground fatalities5

Investigators determined the probable cause of the crash to be "The failure of the pilot-in-command to arrest in time the fast descent at a low altitude upon which he had erroneously decided, instead of executing a missed approach when he found himself too high over the locator beacon."[4]

References
  1. "GI survives plane crash fatal to 56". Telegraph-Herald. Dubuque, Iowa. Associated Press. 5 March 1967. p. 15.
  2. "Liberia accident history at Aviation Safety Network". Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  3. da Silva, Germano; Ari César, Carlos (2008). "Armadilha na aproximação" [Trap on approach]. O rastro da bruxa: história da aviação comercial brasileira no século XX através dos seus acidentes 1928–1996 [The witch's trail: history of Brazilian commercial aviation in the 20th century through its accidents 1928–1996] (in Portuguese) (2 ed.). Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS. pp. 249–255. ISBN 978-85-7430-760-2.
  4. "Accident description at Aviation Safety Network". Retrieved 14 January 2010.


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