What happened
On July 30, 2011, an Air Nostrum Bombardier Canadair CL-600-2B19 (CRJ200), registration EC-ITU, was operating a scheduled domestic flight from Badajoz to Barcelona. The flight was carrying 35 passengers and 3 crew members.
As the aircraft approached runway 25R at Barcelona, the area was experiencing significant meteorological instability, including convective clouds and thunderstorms. Due to the approaching storm near the localizer, air traffic control offered the crew the option for a visual approach, which they accepted. During the approach, the crew encountered a cloud layer. To maintain visual contact with the runway, the pilot flying (the co-pilot) climbed, which resulted in the aircraft losing visual contact with the runway. When the runway was regained, the aircraft was 775 feet above the theoretical glidepath.
As the aircraft descended, the commander took control of the aircraft at approximately 600 feet AGL. To force the aircraft down, the commander deployed the flight spoilers and increased the descent rate, which exceeded 2,500 ft/min. The Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System (EGPWS) issued alerts regarding the excessive descent rate for 13 seconds. The aircraft ultimately made a hard landing with the spoilers deployed and the thrust reversers disarmed.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the flight data, cockpit voice recorder, and meteorological conditions. The investigators analyzed the crew's decision-making process, the aircraft's configuration during the final stages of flight, and the operator's standard operating procedures (SOPs). The investigation also reviewed the effectiveness of the crew's communication and their management of the unexpected weather threats.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an unstabilized approach driven by the commander's decision to descend at rates exceeding 2,500 ft/min while using flight spoilers from 600 feet until touchdown.
- The crew suffered from a lack of situational awareness due to unexpected adverse weather and poor communication between the pilots.
- The commander's sudden takeover of the aircraft and high-intensity maneuvering created an unbalanced cockpit gradient and hindered the co-pilot's ability to monitor the approach.
- The use of flight spoilers below 300 feet was an improper technique that made it difficult to reduce the high descent gradient.
- There were deficiencies in the operator's manual regarding stabilized approach criteria, specifically concerning the completion of checklists and briefings.
- The crew failed to execute a missed approach (go-around) despite the loss of visual references and the presence of significant weather threats.