No fatalities

1992-03-30: Douglas DC-9 (EC-BYH) — Aviaco - Aviacion y Comercio — Granada, Spain

Granada, SpainLanding (descent or approach)

On March 30, 1992, a Douglas DC-9 (registration EC-BYH) operated by Aviaco - Aviacion y Comercio was involved in an aviation accident near Granada, Spain during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft suffered a structural breakup following a series of heavy landings caused by a significant tailwind during approach. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781211124Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft experienced a structural failure and fuselage breakup following a series of hard landings on runway 09.

What happened

During the approach to runway 09, the aircraft encountered a tailwind of 11 knots. Upon touchdown, the aircraft struck the runway 50 metres beyond the threshold with significant force. This initial impact was followed by a bounce, leading to a second heavy landing approximately 360 metres further down the runway. The force of these impacts was substantial, with recorded accelerations of 4.49 g during the first contact and 4.79 g during the second.

As a result of the intense physical stress, all tires on the aircraft burst. The structural integrity of the airframe failed, causing the fuselage to break into two separate sections between sections 756 and 760. Following the cessation of movement, an evacuation was conducted for all 99 occupants. During the event, 26 people sustained injuries, with four of those injuries classified as serious.

Findings

  • The aircraft experienced a hard landing and subsequent bounce due to the impact of a tailwind component.
  • The structural failure of the fuselage was a direct consequence of the high-g vertical accelerations experienced during the two impacts.

Probable cause

The aircraft suffered a structural breakup following a series of heavy landings caused by a significant tailwind during approach.