What happened
On 16 October 2002, a Boeing 747-267B, registration TF-ATD, was operating a passenger charter flight from Calgary to Teesside International Airport. During the final stages of the approach to Runway 05, the commander intended to land at the start of the touchdown zone to account for the wet runway conditions.
As the aircraft descended below 200 feet, the approach became unstable. The airspeed dropped significantly below the calculated approach speed, reaching 129 kt—approximately 12 kt below the required VREF. Simultaneously, the aircraft descended below the glidepath, triggering GPWS warnings. The commander applied significant aft control column input to arrest a sudden increase in the rate of descent, which the crew perceived as the aircraft being "sutck down" onto the runway. Upon touchdown, the rear fuselage made contact with the runway surface, resulting in an abrasion of the underside and damage to the tail section.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the aircraft's flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR), alongside an analysis of the runway and aircraft damage. Investigators found a 17-metre scrape mark on the runway, indicating the tail struck the ground before the main wheels.
Analysis of the FDR revealed that while the approach was generally slower than intended, the most critical deviations occurred below 200 feet. The investigation also reviewed manufacturer data, which suggested that a reduction in the headwind component—effectively a tailwind windshear—contributed to the increased pitch attitude. The investigation also confirmed that the aircraft's pitot/static systems were functioning correctly and were not the cause of the erroneous airspeed readings.