Ansett-ANA Flight 325
On the evening of 30 November 1961, Ansett-ANA Flight 325, a service from Sydney to Canberra, Australia, operated by a Vickers Viscount 720, broke up in mid-air and crashed shortly after takeoff, when it encountered a severe thunderstorm. All 15 people on board were killed.
Viscount 700 series similar to VH-TVC | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 30 November 1961 |
| Summary | Structural failure of wing in thunderstorm |
| Site | Botany Bay, Sydney, Australia 33.9807°S 151.1998°E |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Vickers Viscount 720 |
| Operator | Ansett-ANA |
| Registration | VH-TVC |
| Flight origin | Sydney, Australia |
| Destination | Canberra, Australia |
| Occupants | 15 |
| Passengers | 11 |
| Crew | 4 |
| Fatalities | 15 |
| Survivors | 0 |
Radio contact was lost about nine minutes after takeoff, but no reports of a crash were initially received by the authorities. The next day, wreckage and a fuel slick were found on the surface of Botany Bay, Sydney. The aircraft had been drawn into a thunderstorm and subjected to extreme turbulence. It had broken up and crashed into Botany Bay less than 3 miles (4.8 km) from where it took off.
The loss of Flight 325 was the first fatal accident suffered by Ansett since commencement of operations in 1935.