British European Airways Flight 142

1958 mid-air collision

British European Airways Flight 142 (callsign Beeline 142) was a scheduled service between London Heathrow Airport and Naples Airport. On 22 October 1958, it was flown by a Vickers Viscount 701, registered G-ANHC,^[1] and named "Sir Leopold McClintock".^[2] During its flight, the Viscount collided with an Italian Air Force North American F-86E Sabre over Anzio, Italy.

Accident

Flight 142 was flying at 23,500 feet towards Naples when it collided with the F-86E. The F-86E was the leading aircraft of four on a tactical training exercise when it hit the Viscount. Both aircraft crashed, with the loss of all people on the Viscount. The F-86 pilot, Captain Giovanni Savorelli, didn't use his ejector but parachuted down successfully and spent 6 months in hospital.^[1]

Investigation

While no blame was assigned for the accident, it was noted that the Viscount had strayed out of its airway and into a military-prohibited area.^[1]

References

1. Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 14 August 2009.
2. ABC Civil Aircraft Markings 1957

External links

• "Air crash in Anzio". British Pathé. (includes description and video of aftermath including fuselage and burial ceremony)
• "Italian air crash kills 31". Daily Illini. 23 October 1958. Retrieved 3 January 2021 – via Illinois National Library.
• "The Nettuno Tragedy". Flight. Vol. 74, no. 2598. London, UK: Iliffe and Sons Ltd. 7 November 1958. p. 706. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2009.