What happened
On the morning of the accident, Nigeria Airways flight WT357 was operating a scheduled service from Yola to Lagos, with planned stops in Jos and Kaduna. After a brief stop in Jos, the Boeing 737 proceeded toward Kaduna. Upon arrival at the Kaduna control tower, the aircraft was cleared for a locator approach to runway 05. However, the captain requested to land on runway 23 instead. Despite warnings from air traffic control regarding a 090-degree magnetic wind, the pilot proceeded with the approach for runway 23.
During the descent, the aircraft began a left turn from track 310 to align with the runway. As the aircraft approached the threshold, it was positioned significantly to the left of the runway centerline. Crew members, including the first officer and a jump seat observer, expressed concern regarding the aircraft's position and suggested a downwind maneuver to reposition for runway 05, but the captain continued the approach. The turn was notably steep, necessitating a sharp right correction to avoid ground contact with the wingtip.
The aircraft crossed the runway threshold while the pilot struggled to maintain directional control. The landing occurred 7,820 feet down the runway, leaving only 2,020 feet of remaining pavement. In an attempt to avoid the runway end lights, the captain steered the aircraft toward a rapid exit intersection. During this maneuver, the aircraft entered an uncontrollable skid, causing the right wing to strike the ground. This impact ruptured the fuel tanks, resulting in a massive fire that destroyed the aircraft.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to utilize runway 23 despite unfavorable wind conditions contributed to the unstable approach.
- The aircraft's flight path was significantly offset from the runway centerline during the final stages of the approach.
- The subsequent runway excursion led to a fuel tank rupture and a catastrophic fire.