The De Havilland Comet Accidents
The de Havilland DH.106 Comet's fall was literally marked by a fall from the sky-and only six months after it had entered service with BOAC in its original guise as the DH.106-1 on October 26, 1952. Commanded by Captain R. E. H. Foote and carrying 35 passengers, the jetliner rotated at 112 knots from Rome's International Airport on its final, northbound leg to London, having originated in Johannesburg. Retracting its undercarriage and penetrating the night sky shortly before 19:00, it yawed to the left and began to stall. A corrective action, consisting of a climb angle decrease, failed to correct the anomaly. Unresponsive to the yoke movement, it slammed back on the ground, bouncing and ultimately remaining earthward, but with little distance in which to stop, it barreled over the runway's end, plowing into a dirt mound and shedding its landing gear. Sliding to a stop, it was able to permit all on board to escape without major injuries. Although the ruptured wings began t...