DC10, Tahiti French Polynesia, 2000
DC10, Tahiti French Polynesia, 2000
Summary
On 24 December 2000, a Hawaiian Airlines DC10 overran the runway at Tahiti after landing long on a wet runway having encountered crosswinds and turbulence on approach in thunderstorms.
Event Details
When
24/12/2000
Day/Night
Night
Flight Conditions
On Ground - Normal Visibility
Flight Details
Aircraft
Operator
Type of Flight
Public Transport (Passenger)
Flight Origin
Intended Destination
Take-off Commenced
Yes
Flight Airborne
Yes
Flight Completed
No
Phase of Flight
Landing
Location
Location - Airport
Airport
General
Tag(s)
Approach not stabilised
RE
Tag(s)
Overrun on Landing,
Late Touchdown,
Significant Crosswind Component
WX
Tag(s)
Strong Surface Winds
EPR
Tag(s)
RFFS Procedures
Outcome
Damage or injury
Yes
Aircraft damage
Major
Non-aircraft damage
Yes
Non-occupant Casualties
No
Off Airport Landing
Yes
Ditching
Yes
Causal Factor Group(s)
Group(s)
Aircraft Operation
Safety Recommendation(s)
Group(s)
Aircraft Operation
Airport Management
Investigation Type
Type
Independent
Description
On 24th December 2000, a Hawaiian Airlines MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-10 overran the runway at Tahiti after landing long on a wet runway having encountered crosswinds and turbulence on approach in thunderstorms.
Synopsis
This is an extract of the synopsis from the official report into the incident published by the French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses (BEA).
"While landing on runway 04, in a storm, the airplane touched down about halfway down the runway. It overran the end of the runway and came to a stop resting on its engines, its nose in the lagoon."
The Report's conclusions include:
- "During the final approach, the airplane entered an area of rain and turbulence associated with the presence of a storm.
- The runway was wet, the wind was blowing from the left at the threshold of runway 04 and was between 18 and 28 kts.
- Due to the difficulties in controlling the airplane, thrust reduction was late.
- The touchdown of the main landing gear wheels occurred about one thousand three hundred meters [4000 feet] after the displaced threshold of runway 04.
- Landing with a crosswind on the wet runway with a low vertical speed made it impossible for the spoilers to be deployed automatically.
- The flight engineer extended the spoilers manually eight seconds after touchdown of the main landing gear wheels.
- The airplane touched down to the right of the runway centerline, then its track veered to the left before coming back towards the center.
- The airplane left the runway along the extended centerline then came to a stop with its nose in the lagoon.
The Report states the cause of the accident to have been:
"The accident was caused by the failure, during the preparation for the approach, to take into account the risk of a storm passing over the airfield at the time of landing."
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Further Reading
- For further information see the full BEA Accident Report
