What happened
On a flight from Bangkok to Taipei via Hong Kong, a China Airlines Boeing 747 (CI6lar) encountered severe weather conditions caused by Severe Tropical Storm Sam. The aircraft, carrying 300 passengers and 15 crew, was approaching Hong Kong International Airport during a period of heavy rain, significant windshear, and strong winds.
During the approach to Runway 25L, the pilot transitioned from autopilot to manual flight control at approximately 700 feet. While the aircraft was tracking the centerline, it was noted to be slightly low on the glideslope. As the aircraft descended to 250 feet, the co-pilot observed a notable drop in airspeed. In an attempt to correct this, thrust was increased, causing the airspeed to peak at 175 knots. When the pilot subsequently reduced thrust to return to the target approach speed, the aircraft passed the altitude where the autothrottle typically commands idle thrust. This resulted in a rapid increase in the rate of descent.
The aircraft struck the runway with extreme force in a right-wing-down attitude before the normal touchdown zone. The impact caused the right main landing gear to collapse and the right wing to fail. The resulting fuel spill ignited, causing the aircraft to roll onto its back.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a high rate of descent during the landing phase.
- The impact led to a total of 3 fatalities and 51 serious injuries.
- The crew's manual intervention regarding thrust management contributed to the unstable descent rate.
- The landing occurred under severe weather conditions including heavy precipitation and windshear.