What happened
On July 26, 2017, a Hawker 850XP, registration TC-MAN, operated by Genel Havacilik A.S., was performing a landing at Mykonos State Airport. The flight had originated from Istanbul International Airport. During the final approach to runway 16, the aircraft's airspeed dropped significantly below the recommended reference speed. As the aircraft descended through approximately 640 feet, the crew experienced the activation of the stick shaker and stick pusher systems, indicating an imminent stall. At roughly 30 feet above the ground, the captain commanded a go-around; however, during the landing roll, the left wingtip and parts of the left wing made contact with the runway surface. The impact caused extensive damage to the left winglet, trailing edge flaps, and aileron drive cover, as well as wear to the left main landing gear tire.
The investigation
The investigation examined flight data from the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and cockpit audio from the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). Investigators analyzed the aircraft's performance parameters, including airspeed, vertical speed, and control surface movements. The board also reviewed meteorological reports for Mykonos State Airport and interviewed the flight crew. The investigation focused on the discrepancy between the captain's report of windshear and the recorded flight data, as well as the stability of the approach speed relative to the aircraft's stalling speed.
Findings
- The approach was unstabilized, with the indicated airspeed ranging from 6 to 31 knots below the recommended approach speed and very close to the aircraft's stalling speed.
- The aircraft's airspeed at touchdown was approximately 100 knots, significantly lower than the required Vref of 121 knots.
- The stick shaker and stick pusher systems activated during the final stages of the descent, warning of an approaching stall.
- While the captain reported the presence of windshear, FDR and ATC data did not confirm any significant change in wind velocity or direction during the approach.
- Crew Resource Management (CRM) was ineffective, as there were no standard callouts regarding speed management during the approach.
- The flight crew may have lacked sufficient familiarity with the specific operational challenges and terrain peculiarities of Mykonos State Airport.