Accident Overview
On an early morning approach to Seoul-Gimpo Airport, following an uneventful flight from Los Angeles via Anchorage, the aircraft crashed while landing on runway 14. The crew encountered patches of fog that reduced visibility to 1,000 meters. The airplane landed 90 meters short of the runway threshold and struck a concrete wall. The impact tore off or pushed back all main landing gears into their respective wheel wells, while the nose gear remained intact. The aircraft then slid on its belly for approximately 1,200 meters before coming to rest in flames on the left side of the runway. The fire, which probably ignited in a cargo compartment, destroyed the aircraft.
Sequence of Events
During the final approach to runway 14, the crew failed to realize that their altitude was insufficient. The aircraft descended below the glide path without any visual contact with the ground and struck the ground short of the runway. After hitting the concrete wall, the main landing gears separated or were pushed into the wheel wells. The airplane continued to slide on its belly for more than a kilometer, eventually stopping on the left side of the runway. A fire ensued, likely starting in a cargo compartment, and consumed the aircraft.
Aftermath
The accident resulted in 14 occupants escaping uninjured, while 198 others sustained injuries. Eight passengers and six crew members, including both pilots, were killed. The aircraft was destroyed by the post-crash fire.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause of the accident was a wrong approach configuration on the part of the flying crew, who continued the approach below the glide without any visual contact with the ground until the airplane struck the ground short of the runway.