What happened
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft experienced normal acceleration without any initial indications of mechanical or system failures. However, as the aircraft approached V1 speed, the crew noted significant vibrations. Upon reaching rotation speed, the captain felt these vibrations intensify, prompting an immediate decision to reject the takeoff at a speed between VR and V2.
At the time of the aborted takeoff, there were approximately 1,295 meters of runway remaining. The aircraft exited the runway at a speed exceeding 110 knots, striking an ILS concrete building and breaching the airport's perimeter fencing. The excursion continued across a highway, where three vehicles sustained damage, before the aircraft collided with agricultural construction. During this sequence, engine number three became detached following the impact with the ILS building. Further collisions with the farming structure caused the loss of approximately three-quarters of the right wing and the right horizontal stabilizer. The fuselage also struck the same construction.
The aircraft eventually came to a halt 450 meters beyond the end of runway 14, positioned roughly 40 meters left of the centerline. While the cockpit and passenger compartments remained structurally intact enough for survival, a fuel leak from the damaged right wing ignited a fire in the rear of the fuselage. The resulting fire led to the total destruction of the aircraft.
On board were 381 passengers and 13 crew members. While 333 passengers and 10 crew survived the initial impact, the subsequent fire resulted in 47 passenger and 3 crew fatalities.
Findings
Physical examination revealed that a tire tread on the nose gear had begun to detach before the aircraft reached V1. The investigation concluded that the detachment of the nose gear tire retread created intense vibrations that the pilot could not otherwise identify, leading to the decision to abort the takeoff.