What happened
During an arrival from Santo Domingo-Las Américas Airport, the flight crew was instructed to land on runway 09 at Miami International Airport. According to the first officer, the initial touchdown on the main landing gear was smooth, though the aircraft was positioned slightly to the right of the runway centerline. After the crew corrected the aircraft's position, a noticeable vibration began on the left side of the plane.
As the vibration intensified, the aircraft began to drift toward the left side of the runway. Despite the crew's attempts to steer the plane back toward the centerline, the aircraft exited the paved surface. The plane subsequently struck the glideslope equipment building for runway 30, which sits to the left of runway 09. The impact caused the collapse of both the nose landing gear and the right main landing gear.
Following the collision, a breach in the right wing's fuel tank led to a post-crash fire on that side of the aircraft. The fire was suppressed quickly, and all 140 occupants were able to evacuate the aircraft without loss of life. During the evacuation, four passengers required medical transport to Jackson Hospital.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced an increasing vibration on the left side following touchdown.
- The aircraft veered left of the runway centerline and departed the paved surface.
- The collision with the glideslope equipment building caused structural failure of the landing gear.