What happened
On the morning of the accident, MKA160 and its Boeing aircraft arrived at Halifax International Airport, landing on Runway 24 at 05:12. Following arrival, the aircraft was refueled with a total of 89,400 kg of fuel and prepared for cargo loading. During the ground handling process, crew members were noted resting in the upper deck seats.
At 06:47, the flight crew began taxiing toward the departure position on Runway 24. The takeoff roll commenced at 06:53. During the rotation phase, the lower rear section of the fuselage made contact with the runway surface. This contact occurred twice, with the second impact being more forceful. The aircraft failed to lift off within the runway limits, instead traveling 825 feet beyond the end of the runway before becoming airborne for a short distance.
The aircraft subsequently struck an earthen berm that supported an instrument landing system (ILS) localizer antenna. This impact caused the tail section to separate from the main fuselage. The remaining portion of the aircraft traveled approximately 1,200 feet through the air before striking the terrain and bursting into flames. The accident resulted in seven fatalities among the crew members on board, and the aircraft was destroyed.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the takeoff performance data used by the crew contained incorrect V speeds and thrust settings. These values were likely derived from a different weight calculation, resulting in settings that were too low to support the actual takeoff weight of the aircraft. The crew failed to perform the required independent gross error check, which would have identified the discrepancy.
Several contributing factors were identified, including:
- Crew fatigue likely impaired the pilots' ability to detect calculation errors and reduced situational awareness during the nighttime takeoff roll.
- A lack of formal training on the Boeing Laptop Tool (BLT) contributed to the use of incorrect performance data.
- Cargo loading errors resulted in certain positions exceeding their weight limits by 4,678 kg.
- The presence of the earthen berm at the end of the runway presented a significant hazard during the runway excursion.