What happened
On 11 August 2010, a Douglas DC-8-63F, registration YA-VIC, was performing a commercial cargo flight from Manston Airport to Buenos Aires via Cape Verde. The aircraft was transporting 36 polo ponies and associated equipment. During the takeoff roll on Runway 2 and 8, the aircraft appeared to accelerate slowly. As the aircraft rotated near the end of the runway, the tail skid struck the pavement, creating a scrape mark that extended into the soft ground beyond the runway. The impact also destroyed a single approach light. The aircraft continued its climb, but the crew noted two jolts during liftoff, leading to a suspected tail strike.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation established that the aircraft was significantly heavier than permitted for the runway conditions. While the load form indicated a weight of 335,410 lb, the takeoff data card used for performance calculations was based on a weight of 343,000 lb. Post-incident analysis revealed the actual takeoff weight was approximately 25,700 lb above the maximum allowable weight for the prevailing runway conditions.
Investigators found that the flight engineer had used an incorrect weight for the ponies, calculating them at 350 kg instead of the 450 kg listed on the cargo manifest. Furthermore, the crew had loaded significantly more fuel than required for the mission, further increasing the mass. The investigation also noted that the crew had not performed a crosscheck of the takeoff data, and the commander was distracted by dispatch issues and route planning during the loading process. Additionally, the crew had not operated this aircraft type since late 2009 and had not received recent company induction or operational training.
Findings
- The aircraft takeoff weight exceeded the runway-limited maximum by over 25,000 lb.
- The primary cause was a failure to ensure the aircraft met takeoff performance requirements due to inaccurate weight calculations and lack of crew crosschecks.
- The flight crew failed to verify the takeoff data card against the load form.
- The crew's focus on subsequent flight sectors and fuel planning diverted attention from the immediate takeoff safety tasks.
- The aircraft operator lacked sufficient operational oversight and formal training structures for the newly acquired DC-8 fleet.