- ACCIDENT DETAILS
Date: February 06, 1958
Time: 1603
Location: Munich, Germany
Operator: British European Airways
Flight #: 609
Route: Belgrade - Munich - Manchester
AC Type: Airspeed Ambassador AS-57
Registration: G-ALZU
cn / ln: 5217
Aboard: 44   (passengers:38  crew:6)
Fatalities: 23   (passengers:21  crew:2)
Ground: 0
Summary: The first takeoff attempt ended in an aborted takeoff due to engine boosting. This was not uncommon with this type of aircraft at higher altitudes and was usually caused the thrust being opened too fast. The second attempt to take off was aborted for the same reason. During the third attempt, as the plane passed V1 (committed to take off) the plane suddenly decelerated, never became airborne, crashed through the barrier fence, into a house and burst into flames. Eight members of the Manchester United football (soccer) team killed. A German inquiry concluded at an accumulation of ice on the wings was the cause of the accident, blaming the captain for not deicing the plane. Ten years later the British reopened the inquiry and concluded the accident was caused by slush on the last quarter of the runway. The reason other planes had taken off without incident was because they lifted in the air using only two thirds of the runway. The accident plane, because of the engine boosting, went further down the runway to take off. The aircraft was named "Lord Burghley."
Sources

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