What happened
On the scheduled flight from Bangkok to Taipei via Hong Kong, an Airbus A330 (operated by China Airlines) encountered severe weather conditions caused by Tropical Storm Sam. The aircraft, carrying 300 passengers and 15 crew members, arrived at Hong Kong International Airport during a period of heavy precipitation and significant windshear warnings.
During the final stages of the ILS approach to Runway 25L, the pilot transitioned from autopilot to manual flight control at approximately 700 feet. While the aircraft remained on the centerline, it was noted to be slightly low on the glideslope. As the aircraft descended to roughly 250 feet, a notable drop in airspeed occurred. In an attempt to correct this, thrust was increased, causing the airspeed to peak at 175 knots. However, subsequent reduction of thrust caused the airspeed to drop and the descent rate to accelerate beyond 750-800 feet per minute.
The aircraft struck the runway with extreme force in a right-wing-down attitude before reaching the intended touchdown zone. The impact caused the right main landing gear to collapse and the right wing to separate from the fuselage. This structural failure led to an immediate fuel fire, causing the aircraft to roll inverted. Despite the difficulty of evacuating an upside-down aircraft, the crew and passengers managed to exit through various openings in the fuselage.
The accident resulted in 3 fatalities (two at the scene and one in the hospital) and 51 serious injuries among the passengers and crew.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified that the primary cause was the pilot's inability to stop the rapid increase in descent rate at 50 feet above the runway. Several contributing factors were noted:
- The pilot failed to recognize the simultaneous occurrence of decreasing airspeed, increasing descent rate, and the autothrottle reducing thrust to idle.
- There was a failure to apply sufficient power to counteract the high rate of descent before touchdown.
- Fluctuations in wind speed and direction near the ground likely caused a momentary loss of headwind, which, combined with the reduction in thrust, led to a 20-knot airspeed loss just before impact.
- A possible reduction in the pilot's peripheral vision during the flare maneuver may have prevented the timely detection of the high descent rate.