Background
Flight 336 departed San Jose at 1644 PST, destined for Santa Ana. Approximately 48 minutes later, the crew received clearance for a visual approach to runway 19R.
Sequence of Events
While Flight 336 was approaching, the air traffic controller cleared Air California Flight 931 for a takeoff on the same runway. Recognizing the potential conflict, the controller instructed Flight 336 to abort the landing and go around, and simultaneously ordered Flight 931 to abort its takeoff. Flight 931 rejected its takeoff. However, Flight 336 landed with the landing gear retracted.
The Boeing 737 left the runway surface 900 feet past the threshold, skidded an additional 1,170 feet, and came to rest 115 feet to the right of the centerline. The aircraft lost both engines and broke in two.
Aftermath
All 110 occupants were evacuated. Four of them sustained injuries.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause was the captain's failure to immediately initiate a go-around when instructed by the tower's air traffic controller, and his subsequent failure to correctly execute the specified go-around procedure, which resulted in the retraction of the landing gear after the aircraft touched down on the runway.