Amsterdam–Faro Charter Flight: Hard Landing and Wing Separation (PH-MBN)

Flight and Approach Conditions The aircraft departed Amsterdam-Schiphol Airport at 0552 local time for a charter flight to Faro. The departure was delayed by 40 minutes due to problems with the number 2 engine reverser. After 2 hours and 17 minutes of flight, the crew was cleared to descend to flight level 070. Faro Approach Control then provided weather information showing a wind from 15 degrees at 18 knots, visibility of 2,500 metres, thunderstorms, 3/8 clouds at 500 feet, 7/8 clouds at 2,300 feet, 1/8 cumulonimbus at 2,500 feet, and an outside air temperature of 16 degrees Celsius. At 0820 local time, the crew received clearance to descend to 1,220 metres, followed by clearances to 915 metres and 650 metres at six-minute intervals. At 0829 local time, the crew was informed that the runway was flooded. ## Unstable Approach and Landing At an altitude of 303 metres and a speed of 140 knots, the aircraft became unstable. At 177 metres, the first officer switched the autopilot from command mode to control-wheel steering. One minute later, the autopilot was switched to manual control, and the airspeed began to fall below the approach reference speed. About three to four seconds before touchdown, the crew pulled the elevator to pitch up and increased engine power. When the number 3 and 5 spoilers extended, the aircraft banked to the right to an angle of 25 degrees. The right main gear struck the runway surface with a rate of descent of 900 feet per minute and a speed of 126 knots. ## Impact and Aftermath The aircraft touched down with a nose-up attitude of 8.79 degrees and a roll angle of 5.62 degrees, experiencing a positive acceleration of 1.95 g. Upon impact, the right wing separated. The aircraft slid down the runway and came to rest 1,100 metres from the runway 11 threshold and 100 metres to the right of the centreline, bursting into flames. Two crew members and 54 passengers were killed. A total of 284 other occupants were evacuated, among whom 106 were seriously injured.