No fatalities

Fokker Aircraft Heavily Damaged in Hard Landing After Wrong Approach Configuration (HB-AAI)

Málaga, SpainLanding (descent or approach)

On September 13, 1964, a Fokker F27 Friendship (registration HB-AAI) operated by Balair - Switzerland was involved in an aviation accident near Málaga, Spain during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Wrong approach configuration. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

A Fokker aircraft landed heavily with 40° flaps and gear down after selecting ground fine pitch at 1,000 feet, causing the wing centre section to fail. No injuries occurred.

Incident Details

The aircraft was on approach to the runway with flaps set at 40° and the landing gear extended. The pilot perceived that the airplane was too high on the glide path. While at an altitude of 1,000 feet, the pilot selected ground fine pitch, initiating a steep descent. The aircraft touched down with excessive force on the main landing gear, resulting in structural failure of the wing centre section. After touchdown, the airplane skidded for approximately 400 meters before coming to rest. All occupants were uninjured.

Investigation Findings

The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident to be a wrong approach configuration. No other factors were cited in the report.