ČSA Flight 523
| Industry | Airline |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1923 |
| Headquarters | Prague , Czechoslovakia |
Template:Infobox aircraft occurrence
ČSA Flight 523, operated by an Ilyushin Il-18D, was a scheduled service from Prague Ruzyně International Airport (PRG/LKPR), Czechoslovakia to Havana with stops at Shannon Airport and Gander International Airport. On 5 September 1967, with 69 individuals aboard, it crashed shortly after departing from Gander.
Crash
On 5 September 1967, shortly after refuelling for the last segment of its journey, ČSA Flight 523 crashed during its climb-out from Gander International Airport. The aircraft lifted off from runway 14 but ascended at an unusually low angle. During this climb, it collided with a mast's support wire, rose to approximately 40 m (130 ft), then descended sharply. The plane struck the ground at an estimated velocity of 360 km/h (220 mph; 190 kn), impacted a railway embankment about 4,000 ft (1,200 m) beyond the runway's end, caught fire, and fragmented.[1] A total of four crew members and 33 passengers lost their lives.[2] The aircraft was relatively new, built in April 1967, and had accumulated only 766 flight hours. The crew had been changed at Gander; the captain possessed over 17,000 flight hours—more than 5,000 on the Il-18—and was well-acquainted with Gander Airport, having flown there since 1962. The co-pilot had logged over 10,000 hours of flight time.[1]
Investigation
The inquiry into the event commenced without delay, involving specialists from both Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union. Among them were Genrikh Novozhilov of Ilyushin and the Czech World War II fighter ace František Fajtl. Various theories were examined throughout the investigation; however, the definitive cause of the crash was never established.
Memorials
Since the tragedy took place during Expo 67 in Montreal, the Czechoslovak government later gifted its Expo pavilion to Newfoundland's administration as a token of appreciation for their rescue assistance following the accident. This pavilion was relocated to Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland, and inaugurated in 1971. It continues to function today as the Gordon Pinsent Centre for the Arts.
In 2015, a commemorative plaque was installed in Gander to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the crash.
References
External links
Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in 1967 Template:Aviation accidents and incidents in Canada