Investigation Summary
The flight was plagued by mechanical issues before the accident. After departing New York-Idlewild, the crew shut down the number 3 engine due to a malfunction and diverted to Miami. During repairs, a second defect was found in the number 2 engine. After a significant delay, the flight departed for Montego Bay with the First Officer as the pilot flying. Upon arrival, the crew conducted a visual approach from 2,000 feet but maintained an excessively high flight path. To compensate, they initiated a rapid descent exceeding 1,200 feet per minute, double the safe design limit for the landing gear. The resulting impact stresses caused a catastrophic structural failure of the port wing near the Station 80 joint. The aircraft inverted and skidded 1,900 feet from the threshold, where a massive fuel-fed fire erupted.
Final Conclusions
The ICAO investigation concluded the primary cause was a heavy landing resulting from an improper final approach path. The sinking speed at impact was estimated to be significantly higher than the 10 feet per second design maximum. While the captain held ultimate responsibility, investigators noted mitigating factors including deficiencies in pilot training and proficiency checking. Crew fatigue was also cited as a possible contributing factor due to the extensive mechanical delays and late-night operations.
Video Analysis
37 Dead after Avianca Flight 671 Crash Lands in Montego Bay, Jamaica — A detailed look at the 1960 crash of a Lockheed Super Constellation in Montego Bay, covering the mechanical delays in Miami and the subsequent heavy landing that led to the disaster.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Port Wing (Station 80 Joint)
The location of the primary structural failure where stresses from the heavy landing caused the wing to break off.
Landing Gear
Designed for a maximum sink rate of 10 feet per second; the gear transmitted excessive loads to the wing structure during the hard landing.
Propeller Governor
A replacement governor was fitted to the number 3 engine during the unscheduled stop in Miami.
Interesting Facts
- 01It remains the deadliest aviation accident in the history of Jamaica.
- 02The aircraft was a Lockheed L-1049E-55 Super Constellation manufactured in 1954.
- 03There were 9 survivors in total: 4 passengers and 5 members of the crew.
- 04Four passengers who were originally on the flight from New York refused to re-board in Miami due to the mechanical delays.
- 05The sinking speed at touchdown was estimated to be at least 20 feet per second, twice the safe limit.
- 06The fire was so intense that airport firefighters were unable to reach the fuselage for approximately 20 minutes.
- 07Among the fatalities was the famous Spanish bullfighter Manuel Jiménez Díaz, known as 'Chicuelo II'.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Emergency Exit Redesign
The ICAO report recommended improvements to emergency exit designs to ensure passengers could open them more easily during post-crash fires.
Training and Supervision Review
The report called for enhanced flight proficiency checking and training to address deficiencies in pilot judgment regarding high-sink-rate approaches.