Background
An aircraft departed Hahn Airport at 0630 local time on a flight to Rome-Ciampino Airport, carrying 14 passengers and a crew of 8. The first officer was the pilot flying, while the captain served as the pilot monitoring. The flight proceeded without incident until the approach phase.
Approach and Bird Strike
During the approach, the aircraft established radio contact with Ciampino Tower, reporting its position as 9 nautical miles from the runway and stabilized on the Instrument Landing System (ILS) for runway 15. The aircraft was authorized and configured for the approach. At a height of 136 feet and approximately 300 meters from the runway, the captain observed birds on the flight trajectory. He exclaimed "Ahi," repeating the word rapidly.
At a distance of about 100 meters from the runway, the Takeoff/Go-Around (TO/GA) pushbutton was activated. The first officer acknowledged with "Go around, flaps 15" and set the go-around attitude. Simultaneously with the TO/GA activation, the aircraft collided with a dense flock of approximately 90 starlings. A loud bang was heard, and both engines stalled.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft climbed to 173 feet but then began losing altitude despite a nose-up command. Progressive speed reduction and an increase in angle of attack occurred until the stick shaker activated at 21 feet. The aircraft struck the ground in an aerodynamic stall condition near taxiway AC, about halfway along the runway length, with a vertical acceleration of 2.66g. Initial contact was made with the main landing gear extended and the lower part of the fuselage tail section. During the landing run, the left main landing gear detached from its attachment, and the lower part of the left engine nacelle contacted the runway.
Post-Accident Actions
The aircraft came to a stop near the threshold of runway 33. Fire brigade personnel sprayed extinguishing foam around the area where the engine nacelle had contacted the runway. The captain organized the disembarkation of passengers and crew using a ladder truck deployed from the right front door, supplemented by the right rear slide, which was activated and used later.
Official Findings
The designated probable cause states: "The accident has been caused by an unexpected loss of both engines thrust as a consequence of a massive bird strike, during the go-around manoeuvre. The loss of thrust has prevented the aircrew from performing a successful go around and has led the aircraft to an unstabilized runway contact. The following factors have contributed to the event: - The inadequate effectiveness of bird control and dispersal measures put in place by the airport operator at the time of the accident, - The captain decision to perform a go around, when the aircraft was at approximately 7 seconds from touchdown. The above decision was significantly influenced by: - The lack of instructions to flight crew concerning the most suitable procedures to adopt in the case of single or multiple bird strikes in the landing phase, - The absence of specific training in the management, by the flight crew, of the 'surprise' and 'startle' effects in critical phases of the flight."