What happened
On January 16, 2017, a Boeing 747-412F, registration TC-MCL, was operating a cargo flight from Hong Kong to Istanbul via Bishkek. The aircraft was transporting approximately 85,618 kg of commercial goods. During the transit stop at Manas Airport, the crew prepared for an ILS approach to runway 26 under challenging weather conditions, including freezing fog and very low visibility.
As the aircraft approached the runway, it maintained a vertical profile significantly higher than the prescribed flight path. Despite receiving updated weather reports indicating low visibility and RVR, the crew continued the approach. The aircraft crossed the runway threshold at an altitude much greater than planned. The plane touched down approximately 900 meters past the end of the active runway. Following the landing roll, the aircraft struck an aerodrome barrier and buildings in a nearby settlement. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, followed by a large-scale fuel fire that destroyed much of the airframe. There were 0 fatalities reported among the crew, but the aircraft was a total loss.
Findings
The investigation identified several critical factors leading to the accident. A primary cause was the crew's failure to maintain control over the aircraft's position relative to the glideslope during an automated approach in low-visibility conditions. The crew failed to initiate a timely go-around despite significant deviations from the established approach charts.
Contributing factors included:
- The aircraft systems captured a false glideslope beam of approximately 9 degrees, leading the autopilot to follow an incorrect inertial path.
- Inadequate monitoring by the crew regarding altitude verification and navigational reference points.
- High levels of psycho-emotional stress due to night operations, long duty hours, and complex weather conditions.
- A lack of timely corrective actions following automated alerts regarding glideslope deviations.
- The aircraft's descent continued on an incorrect trajectory without a red warning alert being triggered for the crew during the transition to inertial mode.