The airplane was named Hugo de Groot and registered as PH-LKM[2]. The "E" in the flight number stood for the designation of being an extra economy class flight to match the increased seasonal tourist demand.[3]
Flight 607-E departed Shannon at 03:05 UTC on the second leg of a transatlantic trip from Amsterdam, Netherlands to New York City, US with intermediate stops in Shannon and Gander, Newfoundland. Radio contact with the aircraft was lost at approximately 03:40 UTC; a rescue operation was launched which found light debris on the surface of the ocean approximately 180 kilometres (110 mi) northwest of Shannon. The remains of thirty-four of those on board were also recovered.[1]
Due to the lack of evidence, Irish and Dutch investigators could not pinpoint a probable cause for the accident. They examined the possibility of a bomb, electrical failure, or pilot error, but believed that the most likely possibility was a catastrophic mechanical failure.[5] The investigating board believed the most likely cause of the accident to be a malfunctioning over-speeding outboard propeller caused by metal particles obstructing oil feed line regulator valves.[5] The particles may have been formed by a gear that was damaged when the supercharger of the corresponding engine was accelerated (gear ratio shifted).[5] The malfunctions of the propeller pitch might have provoked a flight disturbance and as a consequence the propeller may have sheared off.[5]
Memorial
A memorial to the people who died when KLM Flight 607-E crashed into the sea is located in Bohermore Cemetery, Galway, just inside the main gates. Several bodies of the passengers are buried around the memorial.
^"Tragedy for Homeward-Bound Vacationers". Life. Time Inc. August 25, 1958. Volume 45, No. 8. Page 28. ISSN 0024-3019. Accessed on Google Books. Retrieved on 6 November 2009.
Accidents with the pound sign (#) occurred in Northern Ireland, which is a part of the United Kingdom, while others occurred in the Republic of Ireland. Accidents with asteriks (*) occurred in the ocean near Ireland